Integrating vocational and higher education to train mental health professionals: a qualitative investigation

Objective: This study investigates an integrated approach to training higher education students for mental health work by exploring the experiences of undergraduate psychology students completing a Certificate IV in Mental Health during their degree. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 undergraduate psychology students, in which participants were asked about their experiences, knowledge and skills gained through their course, and career aspirations on course completion. Data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Seven themes were identified ‘Rewarding challenge’, ‘Working with people’, ‘Understanding mental health’, ‘Value of skills’, ‘Psychologist-as-calling’, ‘Testing/Affirming/Broadening’, and ‘Theory-Practice’. Participants reported increased knowledge and skills concerning working within a mental health context. They also reported that completing the Certificate IV in Mental Health affirmed their career aspirations to work in the mental health sector as a general mental health professional or as a psychologist. Discussion: Although the benefits to students are clear, exploring this approach as a means to train mental health workers to meet existing service gaps merits further discussion. These findings have implications for using integrated qualifications as a training model for the mental health workforce.