Mental health counselors are just as important as physical health. Unfortunately, the 2013 Riskesdas (Basic Health Research) data illustrates that the prevalence of emotional mental disorders as indicated by symptoms of depression and anxiety for ages 15 and over reaches around 14 million people or 6% of the total population of Indonesia. On the other hand, there are more and more movements and communities to remove the stigma around mental health, such as Into The Light, Get Happy, and Sehatmental.id. The government is also paying more and more attention to the psychological health of its citizens, one of which is by launching the Car Lover Initiative (Vehicle for Counseling Silih Asih), namely a car to provide consulting services related to the psychological problems of Bandung residents.
Therefore, reliable professionals in the field of mental health are needed. One of the interesting professions in the field of mental health is a mental health counselor. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this profession to grow 23% in the 2016-2026 period, faster than the average growth of other professions.
What is a Mental Health Counselor?
A mental health counselor is a professional who helps improve clients’ mental health and well-being. Counselors help clients understand the emotions they are experiencing, so that clients can reflect on their experiences and can make informed decisions. The workflow, namely background analysis and up-to-date information relevant to the client’s problems, diagnosis, exploring possible solutions, and developing future plans with the client. If needed, the counselor can do therapy.
The types of issues faced vary, for example, addiction, trauma, problems adapting to a new environment. The type of issues handled is determined by the setting in which a counselor works. When placed in a company, for example, issues faced around work-related stress, bullying, harassment and other issues that can reduce productivity.
Career of a Mental Health Counselor
To get involved in the world of counseling, prospective counselors usually study psychology or counseling majors. However, psychology majors are more common because there are only a few universities offering counseling courses. Apart from psychology and counseling, the company also accepts counselors from graduates majoring in sociology, anthropology, and management, but at least they must have counseling experience.