Mental Health Technician
Wallace and Sparks campuses
The Mental Health Technician short certificate program trains students in the basic concepts of entry-level care for patients and/or clients being provided mental/behavioral health care by mental health agencies, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, or other healthcare facilities.
Students completing all courses in this curriculum will be awarded a program short certificate and will be eligible to apply for certification as a Mental Health Technician. Students completing MHT 101, Fundamentals of Mental Health Technician, will be eligible to apply for certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant and/or a Certified Patient Care Technician. Admission is conditional and depends on the student’s ability to perform the essential functions identified for this program, meet background check requirements of clinical facilities, and maintain a negative substance use screen.
In order to enroll in MHT courses, a status of unconditional admission to the College is required, as is a 2.0 cumulative GPA for students with previous college credit. To progress through and complete the program, a minimum grade of “C” in all MHT curriculum courses is required.
Contractual agreements between the College and clinical agencies may impose additional requirements on students enrolled in health programs. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the areas of attire, confidentiality, criminal background check, liability insurance, and substance abuse screening. Health insurance coverage is strongly recommended as the expense for treatment of injury suffered during training is the responsibility of the student. Any student denied clinical privileges or having clinical privileges revoked by a healthcare facility due to positive background findings or clinical misconduct is not eligible for program admission or readmission.
Degrees and Certificates
-
Mental Health Technician (MHT)
Course Descriptions
MHT 100: Introduction to Inpatient and Residential Operations
This course is designed to provide information regarding the operation of inpatient or residential treatment facilities. The basis of treatment, services provided, the role of staff members, and various methods of treatment for patients/residents with mental health diagnoses are explored.
MHT 102: Foundations of Mental Health
This course provides the basic theory, laboratory, and clinical experiences required for the provision of patient care for mental health clients. The emphasis is on the acquisition of knowledge and the development of skills required to provide care for individuals in mental health agencies, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities. Introduced in this course are concepts of the roles/responsibilities of the MHT, safety, professionalism, legal/ethical concepts, patient observation, and data collection.
Corequisite Courses
MHT 106: Human Development: Social and Emotional Processes
This course examines the role of social, relational, familial, emotional, and genetic influences on the psychological development of the human brain. Integrated concepts include cognition and implications associated with abuse.
MHT 110: Introduction into Abnormal Psychology
This course is a survey of abnormal behavior and its social and biological origins. The anxiety related disorders, psychoses, personality disorders and mental deficiencies will be covered.
MHT 120: Addiction and Forensic Psychology
This course includes the study of the psychological, social, and physical factors that affect human behavior across the lifespan. This course provides insight into the incidence of addiction in America by exploring societal norms, regulation, and misconceptions. Using scientific inquiry, students will learn why people abuse substances; both illicit and prescribed. Forensic matters are discussed including policies for regulation of legal substances and enforcement of laws related to the use of illicit substances. The socioeconomic impact of addiction will also be covered. Ethical practice and professional conduct are also discussed in this course.
MHT 130: Management of Behavioral Crisis
This course concentrates on the management of patients/residents with behavioral concerns. Prevention, intervention, documentation, and techniques/strategies to manage behavior in health care settings are taught in this course. This course also includes a clinical practicum.
MHT 140: Psychiatric Pharmacology
This course delves into the commonly used medications for patients/residents with psychiatric disorders. Routes of administration, indications, therapeutic uses, adverse outcomes, and effects will be examined.