Mental health technicians serve a pivotal function in many facets of the treatment of mental health patients and possess high standards of patient care. Being a mental health tech you will be in direct contact with psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, nurses, and other healthcare employees. Still, a few, and thus your main responsibility will be to provide care to patients and ensure they are always comfortable.
The following are the roles and duties of psychiatric nurse: As a member of the mental health care team, they play different roles that include the following: This article provides information about 8 essential responsibilities of a mental health tech commonly expected of such personnel.
What is a Mental Health Technician?
A Mental Health Technician can be defined as a healthcare practitioner who is involved in the provision of direct care to clients with mental health conditions or developmental disorders. As for working conditions, mental health technicians are employed in hospitals, mental health residential care facilities, or community health centers.
- Primarily, they are responsible for supporting the patient in their daily activities to maintain safety and comfort.
- Mental health techs also do counseling with the patients and assist them in learning appropriate manners.
- They are also members of a treatment team alongside other mental health practitioners such as psychiatrists, therapists, and social workers.
Responsibilities of a Mental Health Technician
Below are the 8 responsibilities of a Mental Health Technician.
1. Observing and Monitoring Patients
Key responsibilities of Mental Health Technician job is to ensure you monitor patients and report any signs to your superiors. You are to monitor patients’ actions, feelings, movements, and psychological state, if any.
For instance
- You might track symptoms of anxiety, aggression, depression, mania, and psychosis.
- You will also focus on the feeding and sleeping habits of the patient, their involvement in treatment plans, and their social behaviors.
- If you see any worrying signs or changes in behavior, you will inform other healthcare workers.
This guarantees patients’ safety and early corrective actions if compounding risks are identified.
2. Documenting Patient Progress
Mental health techs like other healthcare professionals are required to chart their Nursing Notes about each patient including all observations, interventions, and any other notable occurrences.
- This consists of maintaining records regarding specific occurrences, things said, or occurrences over time.
- Detailed records help in understanding a patient’s “status” as they help in developing treatment regimens.
- It also ensures that all the members of the care team are aware of the status of individuals, whether they have deteriorated or progressed.
3. Assisting With Personal Care
Most of the patients suffering from mental disorders encounter challenges in performing activities of daily living as a result of their illnesses.
- Through your work as a Mental Health Technician, there are certain tasks that you will be responsible for, such as;
- feeding the patient, bathing, shaving, or dressing up among other things.
- You may also help them to swallow any medication that they may need to take at that time.
This way, enhancing the ability of these individuals to bathe, feed, and take their medications enhances their health.
4. Leading Group Activities
An enormous amount of mental care is spent on the patients’ activities and in providing them with a structured schedule in terms of leisure activities.
Being subordinate to more experienced personnel,
- Mental health techs may be tasked with coordinated group games, sports, arts, other forms of socializing, relaxation, and basic skills training.
- This way, not only do you teach the patient how to successfully cope with the situation.
- You also foster patients’ social and communication development by engaging them in more stimulating activities than mere television watching.
5. De-escalating Conflicts
People suffering from psychosis, aggressive behavior, or mania also tend to act violently or have hostile responses. You should also have some knowledge of how to handle such situations as it is your responsibility as a Mental Health Technician to calm down the nerves before they get out of hand and cause havoc.
This may include some actions that
- the nurse may take like speaking softly,
- putting up barriers and ensuring that the patient has a safe space to be when they feel overwhelmed.
6. Transporting and Assisting Patients
Mental Health Technician must
- ensure patient transfer from one unit to another, to tests/trials, meals, other buildings in the facility, etc.
- You may also help them to transfer from their bedroom to other shared areas, for instance, the television room.
- Furthermore, depending on the particular facility you work at, you may also assist with the discharge of patients and take them home.
This entails paying close attention to the mobility issues of the patients, and possible dangers that may arise.
7. Implementing Behavior Plans
Individual behavior change protocols are often employed when addressing some mental illness conditions. Mental health techs assist with the implementation of the psychiatrist’s regime that promotes desirable patient behavioral patterns and eliminates objectionable ones.
For instance:
A behavior plan may consist of
- tracking self-harm episodes,
- offering verbal reinforcement for when the child takes his or her medications,
- or removing possible dangerous items.
While the implementation of designated behavior protocols at some point during the day proves effective in increasing productivity, the constant application of these protocols is the secret to positively cementing these habits.
8. Responding to Emergencies
One of the critical facets of the profession in mental healthcare delivery is particularly addressing crises such as medical emergencies, suicidal attempts, or situations as a result of the patient’s state.
Mental Health Technician must learn
- how to handle such an emergency – and that is by calmly restraining the individual, assessing for injuries and immediately caring for them if necessary,
- and summon additional help from those who are qualified medical practitioners, nurses, and security personnel.
- Adhering to emergency operating procedures promptly is crucial for avoiding the worst.
Summary Lines
The main functions of a Mental Health Technician include admitting patients, assessing the patient’s mental state, providing patient care, and implementing treatments. These technicians are relevant personnel in the provision of mental health services. It is not a profession associated with glamour, but it is certainly one of the most fulfilling for those wishing to contribute to society’s forgotten.
As the need for treating mental disorder cases increases, specialized mental health technicians are used and are polite in their handling of the patients to help them regain their health. Skilled and properly equipped workers can positively impact the lives of innumerable individuals one at a time manner.
FAQs:
What is a Mental Health Technician Salary?
The average mental health technician salary in the United States is $26.08 per hour.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Mental Health Technician?
Becoming a mental health technician typically involves obtaining a high school diploma or GED which you can complete almost within 2 to 4 years.
What Does a Mental Health Technician Do?
A Mental Health Technician provides basic support to patients with mental health conditions. These include, monitoring patients, providing Support, assisting with support,and secure environment mangement for patients.
How to Become a Mental Health Technician?
To become a mental health technician, you’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent, consider postsecondary education (such as an associate degree), gain practical experience through internships or healthcare work, and develop skills like empathy, communication, and observation. Certification can enhance your qualifications.
