Taking up psychology as a career option was far more daunting for me and my fellows than was expected. It wasn’t entirely the complexity of the subject or its abstract nature, but rather the realization that there is a lack of structure when it comes to pursuing a career in psychology in India.
To begin with, one of the reasons why it is still an upcoming field in our country is the stigma attached to mental health and psychological intervention. We as a society are more inclined towards physical wellbeing. Less importance, close to none, is saved for mental health.
Only recently the importance of preserving one’s mental wellbeing has begun to gain some spotlight.
Apart from the embarrassment and shame that people carry for having to struggle with emotional and mental health, it is also the lack of resources available regarding the same. The lack of awareness adds to the misconceptions attached to these concepts. As a result of which people who face issues are reluctant to reach out, and seek professional help and guidance.
Secondly, in terms of educational qualification required to work as a psychologist in India is extensive and time consuming. It takes about 7 years, post graduating high school to be eligible to work as a licensed clinical psychologist. For the existing pay scale available for the professionals in our field, it does not seem worthwhile to most people to invest years of hard work only to be met with no fulfilling returns.
Psychology as a valid career option.
I believe there is a lot of ambiguity within our field as well, around what roles and responsibilities each title comes with. This is the lack of structure I mentioned at the beginning of this article. There are no set rules, and yet a variety of avenues open which sometimes tend to overlap with each other. As final year post graduate students, the lack of clarity around what we are to do next is sometimes discomforting.
I appreciate that more people are starting to talk about this on public forums. There are psychologists who have taken to social media, to educate their audience on a variety of topics spreading awareness on importance of mental wellbeing, debunking myths surrounding the same, and clearing out people’s queries regarding the work field.
The change is slow but noticeable regardless. Counselling is made to be available in school and work settings. For instance, educational institutions as well as corporate companies have begun to incorporate sessions revolving around stress management and letting go of the unnecessary workload which would often be ignored as a part of the hustle culture.
There is a lot yet to be achieved, I think. As future practitioners it is important for us to identify the shortcomings we possess as a professional field and work towards a more structured layout. Hopefully, we will get there soon.