Psychiatric Technicians

social interests patient treatment emotional support intravenous medication medical staff personal care medical professional mental conditions

Mental Health Associate, Mental Health Technician (MHT), MHW (Mental Health Worker), Psychiatric Technician (PT)

What they do:
Care for individuals with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities, following the instructions of physicians or other health practitioners. Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report to medical staff. May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral or injectable medications.
On the job, you would:
  • Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or mentally retarded patients.
  • Encourage patients to develop work skills and to participate in social, recreational, or other therapeutic activities that enhance interpersonal skills or develop social relationships.
  • Restrain violent, potentially violent, or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required.

Knowledge

Math and Science

  • psychology
  • sociology and anthropology

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Health

  • therapy and counseling
  • medicine and dentistry

Business

  • customer service

Skills

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Concern for Others
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology

Medical software

  • GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
  • Netsmart Technologies Avatar Clinical Workstation CWS

Electronic mail software

  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
some college or
bachelor's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Find Licenses
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Local Salary Info
Find Jobs
See more details at O*NET OnLine about psychiatric technicians.