Mental Health Matters

Synergy Brings Workforce Solutions To Forefront

Accessible Entry

While upskilling the current workforce is an essential piece of the puzzle, the coalition of higher education institutions also recognized time and money as a barrier.

Common careers in the field – psychiatrist, physician assistant, psychiatric nurse practitioner, licensed psychologist, professional mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, and clinical social worker –require a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.

That’s one of the reasons MHIF and its institutional partners zeroed in on mental health technicians. Not only was it one of the most requested positions, but it also doesn’t require a degree or certificate to start.

What Bellevue University, Metropolitan Community College, and Iowa Western Community College wanted to pursue were betterequipping technicians.

Gary Stessman, who is an associate professor at Bellevue University, said burnout happens quickly when technicians don’t understand how a mental health issue manifests. Stessman knows firsthand; he’s a licensed independent mental health practitioner and provisionally licensed alcohol and drug counselor with over 14 years of experience.

He said if a technician doesn’t understand a person’s trauma response or underlying mental health issue, it’s easy to take a negative reaction personally.

“If they understand trauma and its impact on brain function, or if they understand developmental disabilities and psychiatric disorders, they can separate the behavior from the patient and not personalize it,” he said. “When you don’t personalize it, then you can stay focused on making sure the patient receives the treatment they need.”

The mental health technician certificate program that Bellevue University, as well as IWCC and MCC, have launched teaches students those foundational skills and more.

The hope is that by better-preparing technicians they will stay in the field longer, providing stability, and possibly deciding to receive more training.

“It’s an entry-level job, but if they’re working at a hospital they might have benefits like tuition assistance, which allows them to take a look at other avenues they could explore,” said Dr. Michelle Eppler, dean of Bellevue University’s College of Arts and Sciences. “They could go the counseling, social service, or psychiatric nursing routes.”

In the end, it all comes back to creating a better future for Omaha, and the greater Nebraska area.

“The key here is, the larger the pool, the better off everyone in our community will be,” Stinson said.

In Demand Careers In Behavioral Health

Information courtesy of BHECN

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (APRN-NP) - Prescriber

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who can diagnose and treat mental illnesses and promote the mental health of individuals and families. Psychiatric nurse practitioners offer psychiatric/mental health assessments, order laboratory tests, conduct psychotherapy, and manage medications.

Education Requirements: Typically Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees. Expect six to nine years of coursework post-high school.

Work Environment: Offices of physicians or other health practitioners, private practice, hospitals, outpatient clinics, community agencies, colleges, and universities.

Projected Growth: 31% (much higher than average).

Professional Mental Health Counselor- Non-Prescriber

Average Salary: $91,000

A professional mental health counselor creates relationships to empower individuals, couples, families, children, adolescents, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. They apply mental health, psychological, human development, or family systems principles and interventions to help clients adjust their thoughts, feelings, or actions. They also diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

Education Requirements: Typically a bachelor’s degree followed by a master’s degree that includes a supervised practicum and internship. Expect six to seven years of coursework post-high school.

Work Environment: Individual and family services; outpatient and inpatient intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse centers; hospitals; state and local government.

Projected Growth: 20% (much higher than average).

Average Salary: $98,000