Do you know these two people in mental health services? (Psychiatric Technician and Aide)

Have you ever been to a mental health ward or a rehabilitation center? When you go there, apart from the doctors and nurses, you will see that there are other special people who work very closely with the patients, who look after everything and help them. Those are the 'Psychiatric Technician' and 'Psychiatric Aide' that we are talking about today. Although these two names may seem a little strange to hear, they play an indispensable and very important role in mental health services. Let's see who these two are, what they do, and what is the difference between them.

Who is this Psychiatric Technician?

Simply put, a Psychiatric Technician is a healthcare professional who cares for people with mental health problems and developmental disabilities. They use their knowledge and training to provide direct care to these patients. They typically work as part of a healthcare team under the supervision of psychiatrists and registered nurses.

Several other names are used for these people.

• Mental health technician
• Behavioral health technician

What does a Psychiatric Technician do?

Imagine a patient in a mental hospital or drug rehabilitation center. The main duties of a Psychiatric Technician are as follows.

• Listening to patients: Listening carefully to their concerns, questions, and fears, observing their behavior, and taking notes.
• Reporting changes: Immediately notify the medical staff if you notice any sudden changes in the patient's behavior or anything unusual.
• Conducting therapeutic activities: Engaging patients in recreational and therapeutic activities, such as drawing, singing, and playing small games.
• Providing treatment: Assisting in the process of providing treatment, such as administering prescription medications to patients.
• Admission and Discharge: Assisting with the necessary tasks during the admission and discharge of patients.
• Vital Signs Monitoring: Regularly measuring and recording the patient's basic vital signs, such as body temperature and blood pressure.
• Helping with basic needs: Helping patients who have difficulty with daily tasks such as eating, bathing, and dressing.
• Control: Controlling patients who sometimes behave aggressively and become physically violent, preventing them from harming others or themselves.

How to become a Psychiatric Technician?

To enter this profession, you usually need to complete a certificate or associate's degree in the field. These courses teach basic nursing skills. Other subjects you may want to study for this may include:

• Human Anatomy
• Psychology
• Pharmacology
• Social work

In addition to this education, you may also need to complete supervised clinical work experience or on-the-job training. Some organizations prefer those with a bachelor's degree or previous work experience in a similar field.

So who is this Psychiatric Aide?

A Psychiatric Aide is also a healthcare worker who directly helps and cares for people with mental health problems and developmental disabilities. However, their role is slightly different from that of a Technician. They also work under the supervision of psychiatrists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

What does a Psychiatric Aide do?

The primary responsibility of a Psychiatric Aide is to help maintain a safe and therapeutic environment for patients. They help prevent and defuse conflict situations when they arise. Their duties include:

• Patient observation: Constantly monitoring the whereabouts and behavior of patients within the hospital or facility.
• Accompanying patients: Accompanying patients from one location to another within the institution.
• Helping with daily tasks: Helping with daily activities like bathing and dressing.
• Feeding: Distributing food to patients and helping them eat.
• Cleanliness: Helping to keep patient areas clean. For example, changing bed linens.
• Group activities: Participating with patients in group activities such as outings and sports.
• Control: Controlling patients who are behaving aggressively.

What is the main difference between a Psychiatric Technician and an Aide?

Although these two names are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same job. While there are some similarities between the duties of both, there are some clear differences.

The main difference is that a Psychiatric Aide is not allowed to implement any aspect of a patient's treatment plan. This means they cannot prescribe medication or conduct therapeutic activities. The role of an Aide is primarily at a support level. To better understand this difference, see the table below.

So if you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health issue, you may see a Psychiatric Technician or Aide as part of your treatment plan. Both of these are very kind, compassionate health workers. They use their training to provide excellent service when you need it most. Remember, both of these technicians work as part of a team of psychiatrists, nurses, and other mental health professionals. They all have the same goal: to provide you with the best possible care.