Recently the Ontario government announced the creation of a new website offering information about careers in the mental health field. The site www.workinginmentalhealth.ca allows employers to advertise jobs to skilled candidates and features information about mental health agencies across the province.

Currently, there are not enough workers in the mental health field to meet the growing demand for services. This is largely due to the lack of public awareness about careers in the field, as well as the stigma that continues to affect the mental health profession. The many mental health professionals hope that by making it easier for people to find jobs in the field, the result will be a greater number of candidates with the appropriate skills and expertise.

"One of the most significant changes has been watching the transformation and growth of the community mental health sector. Today we have multidisciplinary teams that include peer specialists, family members, psychiatrists, family physicians, occupational therapist, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Social workers and Community Mental Health Workers. I take pride in knowing that what we do makes a difference in the lives of people we support. I think many people are drawn to the clientele and the population they get to work with, as opposed to being stuck behind a desk all day long," said Judy Shanks, Chief Executive Officer at Canadian Mental Health Association - Cochrane-Timiskaming Branch. "I interact with the clients daily and it is a true privilege to work with people who see the world in such a different light."

The launch of the website, which also provides important information for workers who are looking to advance their careers, will ultimately make it easier and less expensive to recruit employees. Traditional hiring campaigns are time-consuming and divert needed resources away from essential mental health services. But, because the website includes position postings, mental health organizations do not have to put additional funding and resources into recruitment. The site is being advertised to a wide audience, giving it broad exposure. And that will open up the field to the best and the brightest.

The mental health sector in Ontario recently received $185 million to hire new employees. This is part of a government initiative to create new and exciting employment opportunities within the mental health sector.

March 2006

© Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2003  |  Privacy Policy  |  Disclaimers  |   Last Modified :