Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney - 123

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CARE

Mind matters

Log on to www.
mentalhealthjobs.
co.uk for job

Images: Getty Images, Shutterstock. *Source: National Careers Service.

GET INTO THE REWARDING FIELD OF MENTAL HEALTH
AND HELP CHANGE THE STIGMA ABOUT THESE CONDITIONS
ental health problems
affect one quarter of the
population but, despite
being so common, many
of those people face
discrimination because of their illness.
'We have made great strides in raising
awareness of mental health, but we still
have a long way to go in the fight to
tackle the stigma and prejudice around
mental health and build a fairer society
where no one has to suffer in silence,' said
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the
Mental Health Awards ceremony.
The Time to Change campaign (www.
time-to-change.org.uk), run by Mind
and Rethink Mental Illness, conducted
a survey of more than 5,800 people with
experience of mental health problems. It
revealed that more than 70% of people
felt that their friends and family were the
most supportive of all groups, including
doctors, teachers, colleagues and
employers. When asked about the stigma
they faced, more than 60% revealed
they found the discrimination worse

than their mental health problems,
while a further 40% said they received
discrimination weekly or monthly.
Furthermore, 66% disclosed that the
discrimination they faced had stopped
them socialising, and nearly 40% said
it prevented them having a relationship.
You could help these people get the
most out of life by becoming a mental
health nurse. You will need to be able to
empathise with the people you are dealing
with, and show them compassion and
understanding. You need to be nonjudgmental and sympathetic in order to
gain patients' trust. You could be working
with people who have conditions such
as anxiety, depression, personality
disorders, eating disorders and drug or
alcohol addiction. Because of the stigma
attached to mental illness, combating
this and helping individuals and their
families deal with it is key.
As a mental health nurse, you might
be based in a community health care
centre, a day hospital or outpatients
department, or a specialist unit.

descriptions and
vacancies in
this sector

You'll need...
A degree in mental health nursing, then
to register with the Nursing and Midwifery
Council (NMC). Visit: www.nhscareers.
nhs.uk/courses/ for a list of universities
offering places. You will also need to have
the right attitude and personal skills - visit
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-bycareer/nursing/skills-required/ to find
out if this could be a career for you.

You can earn...
Between £21,478 and £27,901 a year.
Experienced nurses working as advanced
practitioners, clinical specialists or nurse
team managers can earn from £25,500 to
around £40,500. Nurse consultants earn
between £39,000 and £67,800 a year.*
http://www.co.uk http://www.nhscareers http://www.nhs.uk/courses/ http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by http://time-to-change.org.uk
Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney

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