What does a mental health technician do: job description and requirements

Mental health jobs: What does a mental health technician do?

A mental health technician is a behavioral health professional who assists and supports patients through their entire treatment experience from admission through discharge. 

Acting as a support system, this mental health job offers a meaningful career where technicians make a difference in building healthier and productive lives for their patients. 

At Discovery Behavioral Health, within a culture of caring, your dream job is waiting. A career in health care where you’ll be striving to make happy and rewarding lives a reality for every person you come in contact with. 

What does a mental health technician do? 

The job descriptions of mental health technicians can vary depending on the specific facility they work in, which can include psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, or outpatient facilities. 

Here are some day-to-day duties and responsibilities of a mental health technician that you’ll find in job descriptions:

Working closely with patients 

• Assessing the needs and requirements of patients and feeding this information back to the treatment team.
• Introducing patients to their primary treatment plans. 
• Managing sensitive circumstances such as food refusal, emotional breakdowns and more with crisis intervention. 

Creating a welcoming and positive environment for patients 

• A vital role in every mental health job is acting as a positive role model, demonstrating appropriate dress, grooming, communication and positive behavior in a professional, warm and caring manner.
• Eating together to model positive dietary behaviors and maintaining a tidy and inviting environment play significant roles in promoting physical health, mental well-being, social connections, routine, learning opportunities, and recovery. 

We greatly value access to care at DBH. Making behavioral healthcare accessible to all is a theme that informs our decisions and shapes our culture. Patient care comes first in everything we do. However, we do place equal importance on employee care too. 

Collaborating with other behavioral health professionals 

• Sharing critical client progress information with the treatment team. This means your communication skills will play a vital role in the success of our mental health patients. 
• Assist therapists in the discharge process by aiding clients in transitioning back to their homes. 

At Discovery, we treat patients with substance use, mental health and eating disorders in multiple levels of care with evidence-based and interventional treatments. This means you’ll participate in a multidisciplinary weekly team meeting so we are able to provide high-quality, comprehensive care to all of our patients. 

Maintaining confidentiality and professionalism 

• Understanding and maintaining confidentiality is vital for establishing trust with your patients, upholding ethical standards, ensuring effective treatment, complying with laws and regulations, and contributing to the overall well-being of clients and the advancement of psychological stability services.

Requirements to become a mental health technician 

Becoming a mental health technician typically involves a combination of education, training, and specific personal qualities. 

Depending on what type of technician role you would like to pursue, residential or outpatient, here are some requirements that are specific to mental health technicians interested in working at DBH. 

For both outpatient and residential mental health tech jobs you will require: 

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university.
• Must attend all training, education, and staff enrichment activities. 
• Must possess a current Driver’s License in good standing. 
• Knowledge of drug and alcohol dependency and mental health issues is also desired.

Preferred qualifications: 

• One year of experience working in the mental health job, counseling position, or eating disorder field. 

Find your next mental health technician job at Discovery 

Embarking on your journey as a mental health technician at Discovery promises not only a fulfilling career but also an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals grappling with psychological well-being challenges. 

Apply for a mental health job today! 

With a strong emphasis on continuous learning through training and education, we ensure our team members are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and compassion needed to provide excellent care. 

If you're passionate about mental health jobs, counseling, and aiding those in need, a career as a Mental Health Technician at Discovery could be the perfect role for you. 

Explore our open Mental Health Technician opportunities today.