Behavioral & Mental Health Careers A Career Exploration Activity

#SBCareerReady

#SBC_MED

“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.” ― John Green

Behavioral Health vs. Mental Health

Behavioral Health

Behavioral health examines how your habits impact your overall physical and mental well being.

Behavioral health disorders result from maladaptive behaviors that negatively impact your physical or mental condition. Some examples of behavioral health disorders are:

Substance abuse
Eating disorders
Gambling

Mental Health

Mental health examines how your biology, psychological condition, and your habits impact your state of well-being in which you realize your own potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and your ability to make a contribution to your community.

Not all mental health disorders are a result of behavioral issues. Some of them are caused by brain chemistry or genetic inheritance. A short list of mental disorders that are not directly related to or caused by behaviors are:

Generalized anxiety disorder
Schizophrenia
Depression

Symptoms of Common Mental Health Disorders

Living with a Mental Disorder

Patients describe what their mental disorder feels like.

Symptoms of Behavioral Disorders

Working with adolescents who have Behavioral and Emotional Disorders

Behavioral and Mental Health Careers

Outlook

Behavioral and mental health is a growing industry and most careers in this field are expected to grow at least faster than the average for all occupations between 2016 and 2026.

Soft Skills Required

To properly care for or diagnose and treat people who have mental illnesses, emotional difficulties, and behavioral problems it is essential to have excellent listening, verbal communication, interpersonal, critical thinking, and decision making skills. These soft skills will help facilitate your interactions with individuals who are in distress.

Is a career in Behavioral and Mental Health right for you?

Behavioral and Mental Health Career Interest Assessment

Behavioral and Mental Health Career Information

San Bernardino County Dept. of Behavioral Health Volunteer Opportunities

“The most fulfilling aspect of my job is to witness the tremendous growth that our clients experience as they transform from sad, lost, struggling girls to confident, capable, self-assured young women." - Daniel Stuart

From Patient to Patient Advocate

Explore your next step...

Click the link below to explore high school pathways and community college programs in Health Science and Medical Technology throughout the Inland Empire.

Inland Empire Career Education Map

A reminder that you are not alone...

Credits:

Created with images by Unknown - "Psychologist Frankston Near You | Dealing with mental ..." • Unknown - "Royalty Free Psychology Stock Photos | rawpixel" • Paweł Czerwiński - "Yeah, I had a stop for one and took the ugliest photograph ever on Unsplash ;)" • Unknown - "Schizophrenia,surreal,people,hodan,man - free image from ..." • Tengyart - "A photograph (wallpaper, picture) of eggs with different emotions against a background of blurred spices and a smooth gray wall. Whole painted eggs in the kitchen, expressing a spectrum of emotions from sadness to joy or madness. Eggs with smile and crazy face." • Anh Nguyen - "Model: @queanh.ng" • Andrew Neel - "untitled image" • Unknown - "Therapist Taking Notes · Free Stock Photo" • Susan Yin - "untitled image"