Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. Technicians typically provide therapeutic care and monitor their patients' conditions. Aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe, clean environment.

Duties

Psychiatric technicians, sometimes called mental health technicians, typically do the following:

• Observe patients' behavior, listen to their concerns, and record their condition
• Lead patients in therapeutic and recreational activities
• Give medications and other treatments to patients, following instructions from doctors and other medical professionals
• Help with admitting and discharging patients
• Monitor patients' vital signs, such as their blood pressure
• Help patients with activities of daily living, including eating and bathing
• Restrain patients who may become physically violent

Psychiatric aides typically do the following:

• Monitor patients' behavior and location in a mental healthcare facility
• Help patients with their daily living activities, such as bathing and dressing
• Serve meals and help patients eat
• Keep facilities clean by doing tasks such as changing bedlinens
• Participate in group activities, such as playing sports and going on field trips
• Help transport patients within a hospital or residential care facility
• Restrain patients who may become physically violent

Many psychiatric technicians and aides work with patients who are severely developmentally disabled and need intensive care. Others work with patients undergoing rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction. The work of psychiatric technicians and aides varies with the types of patients they work with.

Psychiatric technicians and aides work as part of a medical team under the direction of physicians and with other team members, who may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, counselors, and therapists. For more information on the counselors and therapists they may work with, see the profiles on substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors, rehabilitation counselors, and mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists.

Because they have such close contact with patients, psychiatric technicians and aides can have a great deal of influence on patients' outlook and treatment.