Mental Health Resume Examples
Writing a mental health resume should not disrupt your own peace of mind. Get expert guidance from our step-by-step Resume Builder and mental health resume examples.
Our Recommended Example
Mental Health Technician
Popular Templates in the Mental Health Space
Behavioral Health Technician
Psychiatric Technician
Psychiatric Nurse
Music Therapist
Table of Contents
Mental Health Resume
Mental Health Cover Letter
Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Mental Health Resume
The more time you spend fussing over a resume, the less time you spend having a positive impact on the lives of others. LiveCareer’s mental health resume examples take the guesswork out of writing your resume by showing you exactly how resume experts write, design and format a standout resume.
To create your own, use our Resume Builder, which provides pre-written text suggestions tailored to your specific job title. All suggested content comes from certified resume writers who will help you move on with the work of helping other people, and to do it fast. Here are four examples our builder might recommend:
- Performed patient assessments to monitor response to medications
- Explained coping methods to relieve depression and anxiety
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit
- Actualized crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations
6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Mental Health Resume
Do
- Do give specifics of how you’ve handled stressful situations. Mental health work may regularly expose you to stressful and sensitive scenarios. Describe your experience with the high-stress situations that frequently accompany emotional health or substance abuse disorders.
- Do show your willingness to work irregular hours. This is especially important when applying for work in facilities that provide round-the-clock care. Mental health doesn’t follow regular business hours. Consider mentioning that you are open to a variety of shifts in your professional summary.
- Do provide examples of your patience and compassion. Mental health work calls for these two qualities to help others improve their mental well-being. This care and respect for others often extends to communicating with and educating patients’ families as well.
Don’t
- Don’t make assumptions regarding education requirements. In the mental health industry, the amount and level of education required may vary from state to state or from employer to employer. Research the requirements for each employer and position you’re pursuing, and be sure to list all matching education
- Don’t fail to show your professional development. If you are an experienced mental health worker, showcasing your career growth is notable. If you have pursued special training or hold any licenses or certifications, such as CPR or substance abuse counseling, note those on your resume.
- Don’t underestimate the importance of proofreading. Attention to detail is crucial to many mental health industry jobs. You may have to help patients understand the specifics of their treatment, medication or continuing care, for example. Typos in your resume will likely cast doubt on your focus.
Beat the ATS with These Mental Health Resume Skills
More and more employers, including hospitals, are vetting job seekers’ skills before seeing their resumes through the use of applicant tracking systems (ATS). An ATS screens applicants by scanning their resumes for desired keywords. By loading your resume with appropriate mental health-specific skills and keywords, you can boost your odds of beating an ATS and advancing one step further in the hiring process.
LiveCareer’s Resume Builder helps you identify industry-specific skills and keywords appropriate for your mental health resume:
- Mood disorders knowledge
- Patient-oriented care
- Organizing of patient routines
- Referral coordination
- Addictions expert
- Psychiatric population familiarity
- Admissions and discharge planning
Mental Health Resumes for Every Professional Level
Entry-Level Mental Health resume example: Mental Health Assistant
For an entry-level position in the mental health industry, it is a good idea to use a resume with a functional resume format, as this example demonstrates. This format emphasizes the job seeker’s skills and qualifications as they relate to the job the applicant is applying for, while downplaying her limited work experience.
To demonstrate relevant capabilities, the applicant includes job tasks and duties under a professional skills section, which break down into categories such as patient care, communication and team support.
Build My ResumeMid-Career Mental Health resume example: Psychiatric Practice Coordinator
Someone who is in the middle of their career likely has several years of experience and numerous qualifications. This resume example uses a combination resume format, which focuses on both skills and work history.
The job seeker begins the resume with a strong professional summary and then lists critical skills. Next, the applicant does a good job of describing work experience and demonstrating the ability to progress from front office to psychiatric practice coordinator.
Build My ResumeExecutive-Level Mental Health resume example: Staff Psychiatrist
At the executive level, a resume that uses a chronological resume format emphasizes the depth of work experience gained over the years. In the above example, the summary provides an overview of the applicant’s knowledge and qualifications. The work history section then delves into her many years of working as a staff psychiatrist, demonstrating a wide variety of duties and responsibilities in different working environments. Her skills and education are at the bottom of the resume for quick reference.
Build My ResumeRecommended Mental Health Cover Letter
Resume Success Stories
Statistics and Facts About Mental Health Jobs
Popular Job Titles
- Mental health counselor
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Social worker
- Registered nurse
- Social and human services assistant
- Psychiatric technician
- Psychiatric aide
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Annual Pay by Job Title (2018)
Mental Health Counselor | $44630 |
---|---|
Psychiatrist | $208000 equal to or greater |
Psychologist | $79010 |
Social worker | $49470 |
Registered Nurse | $71730 |
Social and Human Service Assistant | $33750 |
Psychiatric Technician and Aide | $30860 | 021K42K63K84K105K126K147K168K189K210K |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*Net
Job Outlook (2018–2028)
Mental Health Counselor | 22% (much faster than average growth) |
---|---|
Psychiatrist | 7% (faster than average growth) |
Psychologist | 14% (much faster than average growth) |
Social Worker | 11% (much faster than average growth) |
Registered Nurse | 12% (much faster than average growth) |
Social and Human Service Assistant | 13% (much faster than average growth) |
Psychiatric Technician and Aide | 12% (much faster than average growth) | 0510152025 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Education Level Required
- Mental health counselor Bachelor’s degree
- Psychiatrist Post-doctoral training
- Psychologist Doctoral degree
- Social worker Bachelor’s degree
- Registered nurse Bachelor’s degree
- Social and human services assistant High school diploma
- Psychiatric technician Postsecondary certificate
- Psychiatric aide High school diploma
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*Net
Gender Composition and Pay Disparities
Mental Health Counselor
Female | 73.3% |
---|---|
Male | 26.7% |
Men Make | 5.9% More | 0255075100 |
Psychiatrist
Female | 61.6% |
---|---|
Male | 38.4% |
Men Make | 30.5% More | 0255075100 |
Psychologist
Female | 73% |
---|---|
Male | 27% |
Men Make | 28.7% More | 0255075100 |
Clinical Social Worker
Female | 81.2% |
---|---|
Male | 18.8% |
Men Make | 3.8% More | 0255075100 |
Clinical Nurse Specialist (registered nurse)
Female | 91.4% |
---|---|
Male | 8.6% | 0255075100 |
Social and Human Service Assistant
Female | 77.6% |
---|---|
Male | 22.4% |
Men Make | 10.1% More | 0255075100 |
Psychiatric Technician and Aide
Female | 87.2% |
---|---|
Male | 12.8% |
Men Make | 21.3% More | 0255075100 |
Source: DataUSA
Racial and Ethnic Diversity
Mental Health Counselor
White | 70.68% |
---|---|
Black | 19.81% |
Asian | 2.87% |
Two or More Races | 2.87% |
Other | 2.82% | 020406080100 |
Psychiatrist
White | 69.78% |
---|---|
Black | 5.83% |
Asian | 21.13% |
Other | 2.26% |
Two or More Races | 0.99% | 020406080100 |
Psychologist
White | 86.31% |
---|---|
Black | 6.26% |
Asian | 3.84% |
Other | 0.95% |
Two or More Races | 2.6% | 020406080100 |
Clinical Social Worker
White | 67.94% |
---|---|
Black | 21.3% |
Asian | 3.46% |
Other | 3.41% |
Two or More Races | 2.61% | 020406080100 |
Social and Human Service Assistant
White | 64.1% |
---|---|
Black | 22.7% |
Asian | 3.61% |
Other | 4.86% |
Two or More Races | 2.4% | 020406080100 |
Psychiatric Technician and Aide
White | 50.65% |
---|---|
Black | 34.74% |
Asian | 5.03% |
Other | 5.51% |
Two or More Races | 2.96% | 020406080100 |