The Best Mental Health Jobs in New York City
If you are considering a career in mental health or currently searching for mental health jobs in a new location, now is an opportune time to explore your options. Regrettably, the U.S. is currently facing a mental health crisis. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that one in five U.S. adults experiences symptoms of poor mental health annually. Nearly 27 million individuals with a mental illness do not receive the necessary treatment.
Moreover, New York City is one of the regions heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, according to officials from the NYC Health Department report, New Yorkers continue to endure higher-than-average levels of stress, anxiety, and depression due to the pandemic. Consequently, there is an unprecedented demand for qualified professionals to fill positions such as substance abuse counselors and other behavioral health jobs.
This shortage of mental health care professionals contributes to many individuals not receiving essential mental health services. So, if you are interested in health care positions related to mental health, contact us or apply at TemPositions Health Care today
How to Find Jobs in the Mental Health Field in NYC
Whether you are looking for mental health counselor jobs, case manager jobs, or any other behavioral health positions in New York City, start by making sure you have the education and personal traits needed for a career in the mental health field.
Personal skills that will help you be successful include:
• Compassion
• Patience
• Active listening
• Critical thinking
• Calm demeanor
• Empathy
Additionally, these important personal attributes, you will need a post-secondary education. The minimal degree requirement is a bachelor’s degree in one of these fields:
• Counseling
• Sociology
• Nursing
• Human services
• Psychology
• Social work
Some positions require a master’s degree in psychology, nursing, or mental health counseling, and others may require a doctorate-level degree. You might also be required to take the Examination for Professional Practice Psychology and maintain current state licensing.
Once you have completed all qualifications to pursue a career in mental health, it’s time to decide on a job.
Jobs in the Mental Health Field
Many types of jobs that fall into the category of mental health.
In the mental health field, active roles include psychologists, marriage and family therapists, case managers, direct support professionals, substance use disorder counselors, and school counselors. Additionally, administrative positions exist in mental health centers that do not require direct interaction with clients or patients.
Similar to other career fields, the realm of mental health provides more opportunities than many people realize. Especially in a vast city like New York, while choosing to work in hospitals and clinics may appear to be an obvious choice, you can also contemplate a career in the NYC school system, correctional facilities, juvenile centers, or nursing homes.
Thus, with the appropriate qualifications and a genuine desire to assist others, you can practically explore limitless possibilities.
Entry-Level Mental Health Jobs
Outpatient mental health clinics, drug treatment centers, and community health centers typically offer entry-level job opportunities.
Additionally, when you initiate your job search, browse the job boards for these kinds of institutions in the New York City neighborhoods where you aim to work.
To exemplify, sought-after positions encompass:
• Direct Support Professional
• Respite counselor
• Adult counselor
• Youth counselor
• Drug abuse counselor
• Social worker
Moreover, entry-level positions in the mental health field can still offer stability and a good income.
As a result, the experience you accumulate from working with teens in youth counselor roles could serve as the initial stride toward a career in the foster care system or delivering therapy to teens in your own private practice in the future.
Remote Mental Health Jobs
Luckily, the surge of online therapy providers has opened up the field both for those in need of mental health services and mental health professionals. Working remotely allows for the flexibility to help clients in multiple locations wherever you live. Some of the positions that can be fulfilled remotely include:
• Behavioral health therapist
• Counselor/therapist
• Group therapy mentor
• Addiction counselor
• School psychologist
Psychiatric Hospital Jobs
Are you interested in psychiatric nurse practitioner jobs or mental health nurse jobs? There are several options available. Psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, school districts, and correctional facilities are just some of the places to search for psychiatric nurse jobs.
Psychiatric nurses play an important role in improving mental health care, and the need for qualified psychiatric nurses is high. According to a study by the American Association of Psychiatric Nurses, less than half of adults and only 20% of children who need psychiatric nursing are able to receive care due to a shortage in available services.
What’s more, New York City is home to some of the most well-known psychiatric hospitals and clinics in the world. Qualified nurses can also explore career options in private practice and telehealth platform.
Group Home Worker
Another great way to get involved in the mental health field is becoming a group home worker. There are several group home jobs available such as New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) jobs, adult day care jobs, caregiver jobs, direct support professional jobs, and youth counselor jobs. Depending on where group home workers are placed, they could provide guidance anywhere from mental health and relationships to helping patients develop vital life skills.
Group home workers make a real difference in people’s lives. So, if you are interested in learning more about becoming a group home worker, check out the many different job positions we offer on our find work page.
The Benefits of a Career in Mental Health
Helping others improve their quality of life is highly rewarding. While all mental health jobs can be challenging at times, knowing you have made a real difference for someone who is struggling is worth any difficulties you might face. Additionally, some of the special benefits of working in the mental health field include:
• Engaging in different tasks and experiences every day
• Acquiring skills that will improve your own mental health
• Receiving appreciation from clients, patients, and their family members
• Playing a critical role in your community
• Enjoying job stability
Moreover, it’s good to know the job outlook for the entire mental health field is favorable, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thus, whether you are interested in mental health therapy or direct support professional jobs, you can expect the job market to continue to grow for at least the next decade.
Finding Mental Health Jobs in NYC
No matter what type of mental health job you are interested in, you’ll discover a variety of opportunities in New York City. Moreover, the demand for qualified workers in the mental health field is high. Consequently, good candidates can choose from part-time, full-time, remote, virtual, private-practice, and hospital-based positions.
To learn more about building a career in the field of mental health, contact us or apply at TemPositions Health Care today
