Southern Utah University’s Community and Workforce Development department is offering a certificate for young professionals interested in the behavioral health field. Geared toward students who want to make an impact on those facing mental health challenges, the program’s goal is to contribute to the growing awareness of mental health issues.
Behavioral health employers may use this certificate program to train employees. These courses teach empathy and boundary-setting skills along with how to ethically manage social, behavioral and emotional concerns. Having these skills prior to entering the workforce will make students more desirable applicants and better equipped to start a new job.
According to Time Magazine, “Almost a third of U.S. adults now report symptoms of either depression or anxiety, roughly three times as many as in 2019.” These raises in mental health statistics prove the need for behavioral health workers’ preparation in the field.
Because health employees are in much higher demand, a job in the field could be monetarily beneficial. An average behavioral health technician makes roughly $42,000 per year, ensuring competitive wages and financial stability.
The Behavior Health Foundations Certificate is made up of three courses offered sequentially. The program kicks off with a four-week course titled Introduction to Behavioral Health Careers. Following this, students take a six-week Personal Preparation for Behavioral Health Career course. The final class is Virtual Job Shadowing, which provides students with online access to professionals in the behavioral health field.
The certificate is a time-friendly program that will give students a head start in the behavioral health field. SUU believes that this certificate is a great starting point for professionals in the field and will be used to train employees in the future. After completing these courses, students can use these credits toward a degree at SUU. This certificate is also beneficial for perfecting a resume or applying for graduate school.
Author: Maggie Whipple
Photo courtesy of SUU
Editor: Anna Mower
news@suunews.net