Working in Mental Health

The mental health sector is broad and set to grow, with embedding good mental health habits and wellbeing seen as critical not only in the health sector but in education and commercial business environments too.

Whilst you may well be familiar with some of the therapeutic roles available in mental health - counsellors, therapists, mental health nurses, psychologists - the mental health sector also encompasses jobs in policy and law, admin, communications, as well as broader business functions. Many corporate HR departments now employ someone with responsibility for wellbeing and staff inclusion, which often crosses over with equality, diversity and inclusion or sustainability. You might also want to look at frontline services in housing, debt advice, youth work, community development, substance abuse or criminal justice, all of which involve working with people with mental health problems.

If you are interested in working in this area, then doing volunteer work alongside your degree will help improve your confidence, skills and knowledge of the broader sector.

Places to start exploring your career options!

Job Boards

Employers also use job boards to advertise roles, so they’re another way to find opportunities. They often have filters by location and job type to help your search. Here are some sector-specific job sites:

Graduate Schemes

Graduate schemes are a great way to get into the industry at entry-level. Often spanning two years, they provide structured training, and typically a full-time contract after completion. Many of them will allow you earn specific qualifications or accreditations which are recognised across the industry. Here are some graduate schemes in the sector:

Local Companies

Professional bodies, organisations and regulatory authorities

Professional bodies and organisations help maintain high standards and reputations in the profession and of their members. Many sectors require their staff to be a member of one of these organisations. Here are some links to the organisations relevant to this sector: