Pros
I recently had to retire because of health problems. It was a privilege to work in this program with my supervisor and most of my coworkers. My supervisor, MC, and his supervisor, CC, were both supportive of me in my job, listened and cared about my input and were always available. More importantly, they both have compassion for every client that we serve without bias or prejudice. Some people get into mental health service positions because it makes them feel good to be able to say they help people, my supervisor and his supervisor do this work because they want the client's to be healthier and live their best lives. It's compassion without ego. It added value to my ability to be of service to our clients and helps the clients succeed. Most of the people working in this program are dedicated to serving the clients and doing everything within their scope of practice to help the client grow and live a more fulfilled life. The pay is comparable, good benefits all the way around and for the most part, good working conditions. Also opportunities to grow and advance in your profession.
Cons
Unfortunately, some people get into careers like this for the wrong reasons. They lack the compassion needed to be able to see that every client is important with individual needs and challenges and we serve each one, meeting them where they are at and not just the ones we like. These employees make the job harder for those who are there for every client who have to pick up the slack, work extra hard with clients who are shunned by staff who feel rejected and try to keep a positive, welcoming atmosphere for everyone. Working in mental health is not just a job you go to for a paycheck. This is discouraging and exhausting as an employee.