Information on Careers in Social Work or Clinical Mental Health

Social and mental-health clinic work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help others. Social and mental health workers assist people in coping with and finding solutions to mental, personal or family problems.

Children

• As a mental-health or social worker, you may choose a career specializing in the mental-health needs of children. Some of these occupations include child-welfare department worker or school counselor.

Substance Abuse

• Another specialty of social work and mental health is substance abuse. You will help treat and evaluate people suffering from substance-abuse problems. Judges sometimes refer drug abusers to treatment programs rather than jail.

Counselor

• Mental-health counselors help individuals develop treatments plans to deal with mental, social or emotional problems.

Domestic Violence

• Treating the mental and emotional problems of domestic-abuse victims is another specialty field you may chose. You will help the victim recover from emotional and mental abuse and help her make plans to improve her life.

Other Occupations

• Social and mental-health workers may find employment in many varied fields. Some of them include adoption and foster care, hospice care, hospital social work, homeless family assistance, parent education and community planning services.

Education & Salary

• According to the 2008-09 edition of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual salary of medical and public health social workers was $43,040 in May 2006. A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for mental-health and social-work careers. A master's degree is usually required for jobs in health-care settings.