The past year has no doubt heightened the challenges of mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone globally, however, it is the silent pandemic of mental health that we must not ignore.

Currently, ¼ adults experience mental health problems while nearly 40% of under 65s ill-health is caused by mental illness. These chilling but alarming statistics are what encourage a lot of graduates to pursue career in mental health. However, the path to a career in mental health is long and narrow; courses are competitive and years of training are required. 

The Think Ahead programme offers a fast-tracked route into mental health social work. During the paid on the job training, you not only gain a master’s qualification in social work, but also become a fully qualified mental health social worker by the end of the two-year programme. 

Featuring in the top 40 of The Times’ Top 100 Graduate Employers list, Think Ahead values graduates from any degree background, insisting no previous experience in social work or mental health is needed. It is open to mental health advocates and anyone with a real passion for supporting people. 

As a mental health social worker you focus on the social factors that can impact mental health, including housing, employment and relationships. By looking at a person’s whole life rather than just their illness, you can have an incredibly transformative effect, not only on an individual level, but on a societal level. You also gain invaluable experience working with local authorities and NHS trusts to affect change in communities.

In addition to the motivational opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives, benefits of the programme include paid qualification fees, and a training bursary starting between £17,200-£19,100.

Think Ahead wants to find exceptional individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, particularly men and people from ethnic minorities who are currently under-represented in mental health social work. 

For more information about the programme and to apply, head to the website at https://thinkahead.org/.

If you have decided to apply for the role and need help with the application process then please get in touch with the Glasgow University Recruitment Ambassadors:

• Rachel McMillan 2255266m@student.gla.ac.uk

• Amy Paterson 2324859p@student.gla.ac.uk