BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONS INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER OF NEBRASKA (BHECN)

WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION? The projected job outlook for mental health professions are above the national average. There is a need for mental health professionals in the state of Nebraska. There are many different Nebraska College Grants college-grants.html college-grants.html

WHAT CAREERS ARE AVAILABLE IN MENTAL HEALTH?

PSYCHIATRIST What they do: diagnose & treat mental illnesses, prescribe medication, correct chemical imbalances, provide psychoanalysis to help clients find solutions and change behavioral patterns Education needed: 4 years undergraduate school, 4 years medical school, and 3-8 years of internship Pay: $200,694 (annual median for 2010) Job Outlook: Expected to grow by 24% from 2010 to 2020 (above average nationally) Especially a need for psychiatrists in rural areas & child specialty Information provided by Occupational Outlook Handbook

PSYCHOLOGIST What they do: study behavior & brain function, collect information, find patterns in behavior, increase understanding in individuals or groups, develop & carry out treatment programs, and collaborate with physicians and social workers Education needed: Masters or Doctoral degree in Psychology Pay: $68,640 (annual median for 2010) Job Outlook: Expected to grow 22% between 2010 and 2020 (above average nationally) Information provided by Occupational Outlook Handbook

MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR/ MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST What they do: diagnose & treat mental and emotional disorders, encourage clients to discuss problems, guide clients through reactions and decisions, help clients develop strategies to change behaviors, coordinate treatment with other professionals, and refer clients to community resources and support groups Education needed: Masters degree in counseling or marriage & family therapy Pay: $38,159 (median annual pay for 2010) Job Outlook: Expected to grow 37% from 2010 to 2020 (Above average nationally) Information provided by Occupational Outlook Handbook

SOCIAL WORKER What they do: identify people who need services, assess clients needs to determine goals, develop plans, help clients adjust to changes, refer clients to community resources, respond to crisis situations, advocate for their clients, follow up with clients to ensure the situation has improved, and evaluate services provided to ensure they were effective Education needed: Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or sociology Pay: $42,480 (median annual pay for 2010) Job Outlook: Expected to grow by 25% from 2010 to 2020 (above average nationally) Information provided by Occupational Outlook Handbook

PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER What they do: provide primary and specialty care to clients, prescribe medications, assess and treat clients, collaborate with physicians and other team members Education needed: Masters or Doctoral Nursing Program Pay: $92,396 (Average Full Time Salary for 2011) Job Outlook: Above average nationally Especially need in rural areas to help prescribe & monitor medication management Nurse Practitioner and Salary and Career Center ( psychiatric/) psychiatric/ National Salary Report ( assistants.advanceweb.com/Features/Articles/National-Salary-Report aspx) assistants.advanceweb.com/Features/Articles/National-Salary-Report aspx

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDER COUNSELOR What they do: evaluate clients’ mental and physical health, addiction, and openness to treatment, develop treatment goals, recommend treatment options, help clients develop skills to recover from addiction, teach families about addiction or behavior disorders, refer clients to community resources, develop and conduct outreach programs Education needed: Masters degree Pay: $38,120 (median annual pay for 2010) Job Outlook: Expected to grow by 27% from 2010 to 2020 (above average nationally) Information provided by Occupational Outlook Handbook

WHAT SCHOOLS IN NEBRASKA OFFER PSYCHOLOGY DEGREES Bellevue Bellevue ( Chadron State Chadron ( College of Saint Omaha ( Concordia Seward ( Creighton Omaha ( Doane Crete ( Grace Omaha ( Hastings Hastings (

SCHOOLS CONTINUED… Kaplan Lincoln & Omaha ( Midland Lutheran Fremont ( Nebraska Wesleyan Lincoln ( Northeast Community Norfolk ( Peru State Peru ( Union Lincoln (

SCHOOLS CONTINUED… University of Omaha ( University of Lincoln ( University of Kearney ( Wayne State Wayne ( Western Nebraska Community Scottsbluff ( York York (

WHAT SCHOOLS IN NEBRASKA OFFER SOCIAL WORK DEGREES? Chadron State Chadron ( Creighton Omaha ( Nebraska Wesleyan Lincoln ( Union Lincoln ( University of Kearney ( University of Omaha (

WHAT SCHOOLS IN NEBRASKA OFFER NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS? Clarkson Omaha ( Creighton Health Omaha ( University of Nebraska Medical Omaha, Kearney, Lincoln, Norfolk, & Scottsbluff (

INFORMATION BROUGHT TO YOU BY: THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER OF NEBRASKA (BHECN) April, 2012