There Is No Health Without Mental Health
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Written by Maria Bilat
October 3rd, 2024
Welcome to the month of October! The theme for this month is Mental Health, and over the next couple weeks, we will be exploring and highlighting a variety of exciting career options within the field. Let’s get started!
Mental health is a crucial aspect of our overall health. It includes our emotional,
psychological and social well being, affecting how we think, feel and act day to
day. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make
healthy choices.1
Over the course of a lifetime, a person’s mental health may fluctuate depending
on various factors, including stress, trauma, genetics and brain chemistry.2
Many people may develop mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression
or PTSD. In fact, according to The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, in any
given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness.3 Mental health is just as important as our physical health, and the intricate relationship between the two emphasizes the importance of the mental health field, and the many professionals dedicated to supporting the mental well-being of individuals and communities.
Mental health care involves a range of services aimed at diagnosing, treating, and managing mental health conditions. It not only focuses on treating mental illnesses but also promotes preventive care, helping individuals manage stress and build coping mechanisms before issues become more severe. With proper support, people with mental health conditions can recover, thrive, and lead fulfilling lives.
The mental health field offers an extremely wide variety of career options, each with different specializations and educational backgrounds. While I do not have the word count to describe each one, I can give a brief overview of some of the professions in the mental health field. Don’t forget, we will be diving into more career options in the following articles, so make sure to stay tuned in the next couple weeks for more information!
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Key Professions in the Field of Mental Health
1. Psychiatrists
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Licensed medical doctors who specialize in mental health.
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Diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and monitor medications and provide therapy.
Education: 4 year Bachelor’s degree, 4 years of Medical School, 4-5 years of Psychiatric Residency, 1-2 years Fellowship in a chosen subspecialty
2. Psychologists
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Experts in clinical psychology
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Evaluate and diagnose mental health conditions, provide individual and group therapy
Education: 4 year Bachelor’s degree, 2 year Master’s degree, 6-9 year PhD, 1 year internship
3. Social worker
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Health professionals who work with individuals, families, groups and communities to improve individual and collective well-being.
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Provide counseling, therapy and referral to other supportive social services.
Education: 4 year Bachelor’s degree in Social Work
Lastly, I wanted to share some resources that can be used if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health. It is important to know that you are never alone and that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Suicide Crisis Helpline (9-8-8)
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If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ottawa Distress Line (613-238-3311)
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All encompassing telephone service that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and offers services in both French and English. ​
ConnexOntario (+1 866-531-2600)
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Free and confidential phone, chat, texting and email service that helps people in Ontario who need support and information about mental health, gambling and addiction services available in their community.
Footnotes
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). About Mental Health.
2Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2023). What is Mental Health?
https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health
3The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Mental Illness and Addiction: Facts and Statistics. https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the-crisis-is-real/mental-health-statistics
References/Extra resources to check out!
Canadian Association of Social Workers. What is Social Work? https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/what-social-work
Embark (2024). A Comprehensive Guide: How to Become a Psychologist. https://www.embark.ca/learning-centre/how-to-become-a-psychologist
Government of Canada (2024). Social Worker in Ontario. What is Social Work?
https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/occupation/23025/ON
National Alliance on Mental Illness (2020). Types of Mental Health Professionals. https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/treatments/types-of-mental-health-professionals/
The Royal. Crisis Lines. https://www.theroyal.ca/crisis-lines
University of Manitoba. Mental Health. https://umsu.ca/mentalhealth/
Upstream Counseling (2024). How to Become a Psychiatrist in Canada: Education, Licensing, and Key Milestones. https://www.upstreamcounselling.com/blog/how-to-become-a-psychiatrist-in-canada-education-licensing-and-key-milestones