MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Mississippi
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Magnolia State. Build clinical skills, make a difference in patients' lives, and connect with employers in mental healthcare.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
110+
MS BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
580+
Annual Openings
Why Get an MHT Externship?
A Mental Health Technician externship gives you real-world behavioral health experience that employers value. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychiatric technicians earn a median salary of $38,000+ with faster-than-average job growth due to increased mental health awareness.
An externship helps you:
- ✓ Practice patient observation, de-escalation, and therapeutic communication in real settings
- ✓ Build professional references from behavioral health supervisors
- ✓ Discover which setting fits you best (inpatient, residential, crisis, substance abuse)
- ✓ Convert your externship into a job offer — behavioral health has high demand
New to behavioral health? EHired offers free training to prepare you for AMCA MHT certification. An externship is optional but highly recommended for building confidence and making a real difference in patients' lives.
⚠️ Important: EHired does NOT place, arrange, or supervise externships. You contact facilities directly to arrange your own placement. This self-managed approach gives you flexibility to choose sites near your home and build direct relationships with potential employers.
How to Find an Externship in Mississippi
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a behavioral health externship.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities that employ Mental Health Technicians:
- ✓ Psychiatric hospitals — Inpatient behavioral health units
- ✓ Behavioral health centers — Mississippi State Hospital, UMMC Psychiatry, Merit Health Behavioral, Pine Belt Mental Healthcare
- ✓ Residential treatment — Long-term mental health facilities
- ✓ Substance abuse centers — Detox and rehab facilities
- ✓ Crisis stabilization units — Short-term crisis care
- ✓ Community mental health — Outpatient behavioral health
- ✓ VA medical centers — Veterans mental health programs
Prepare Your Approach
Get ready before contacting sites:
- ✓ Update your resume — Include EHired training, any healthcare/human services experience
- ✓ Prepare a pitch — "I'm completing MHT training and seeking hands-on behavioral health experience"
- ✓ Highlight your qualities — Patience, empathy, communication skills, reliability
- ✓ Be flexible — Behavioral health is 24/7; offer evening/weekend availability
- ✓ Expect background check — Most behavioral health facilities require this
Make Contact
Reach out to facilities directly:
- ✓ Call first — Ask for the unit manager, nurse manager, or HR department
- ✓ Email HR — Many behavioral health facilities prefer email inquiries
- ✓ Explain the arrangement — Unpaid, flexible hours, eager to learn and help
- ✓ Emphasize commitment — Mental health work requires dedication
- ✓ Follow up — If no response in 1 week, call again politely
Complete Your Externship
Make the most of your experience:
- ✓ Track your hours — Log date, hours, and experiences
- ✓ Learn actively — Observe de-escalation, ask questions appropriately
- ✓ Maintain boundaries — Professional relationships with patients always
- ✓ Practice self-care — Behavioral health work can be emotionally demanding
- ✓ Ask about openings — Express interest in future employment
Sample Script: Calling a Behavioral Health Facility
"Hi, my name is [Your Name]. I'm completing a Mental Health Technician training program and I'm looking to gain hands-on experience in behavioral health through an externship. I'm passionate about helping people with mental health challenges and I'm wondering if your facility might have room for an extern? I'm flexible with scheduling, including evenings and weekends, and I'm prepared to complete any required background check. Would it be possible to speak with someone in HR or a unit manager about this opportunity?"
Key points to emphasize: You're trained, you're passionate about mental health, you're flexible with scheduling (24/7 field), and you understand the importance of the work. Behavioral health facilities value dedication and empathy.
Where to Find Externships in Mississippi
Mississippi has 110+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Jackson Metro (Hinds, Madison, Rankin Counties)
State capital with UMMC Psychiatry, Mississippi State Hospital, and regional providers.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
UMMC Psychiatry (University of Mississippi Medical Center), Mississippi State Hospital (Whitfield), Merit Health Central Behavioral, Brentwood Behavioral
Behavioral Health Centers:
Hinds Behavioral Health Services (major CMH), Catholic Charities Jackson, Open Arms Healthcare, Canopy Children's Solutions
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Sunflower Landing, Starting Point, Jackson Crisis Line, Hinds County Crisis Services
💡 Jackson has 40% of Mississippi behavioral health jobs. UMMC provides academic training. Mississippi State Hospital (Whitfield) is state's largest psychiatric facility.
Gulf Coast (Harrison, Jackson Counties)
Biloxi/Gulfport with Singing River Behavioral and Gulf Coast Mental Health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Singing River Health System Behavioral, Merit Health Biloxi Behavioral, Memorial Hospital Gulfport BH, Gulf Coast Veterans VA BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Gulf Coast Mental Health Center (major), Life Help Mental Health, Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Coastal, Catholic Charities Biloxi
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Gulf Coast Rehab, Pine Grove Behavioral (Hattiesburg nearby), Gulf Coast Crisis Line, GCMHC Crisis Services
💡 Gulf Coast serves tourism and military communities (Keesler AFB). Hurricane preparedness part of crisis work. Growing behavioral health infrastructure.
Hattiesburg/Pine Belt (Forrest, Lamar Counties)
USM region with Forrest General Behavioral and Pine Belt Mental Healthcare.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Forrest General Behavioral Health, Merit Health Wesley Behavioral, Pine Grove Behavioral Health System, Southeast MS State Hospital (nearby)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Pine Belt Mental Healthcare (major regional), Forrest County Community Services, USM Psychology Clinic, Oak Grove Counseling
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Pine Grove (nationally known addiction), Forrest County Recovery, Pine Belt Crisis Line, Forrest General Crisis
💡 Hattiesburg has Pine Grove—nationally recognized addiction treatment. USM provides some behavioral health training. Growing regional hub.
North Mississippi (DeSoto, Lee, Lowndes Counties)
Memphis suburbs and Tupelo with Baptist Memorial and regional behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Baptist Memorial-DeSoto Behavioral, North Mississippi Medical Center Behavioral (Tupelo), Baptist Memorial-Golden Triangle (Columbus)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Region 1 Mental Health Center, Lifecore Health Group, Community Counseling Services (Tupelo), Region 5 Mental Health (Columbus)
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
North MS Recovery Services, Tupelo Crisis Line, DeSoto County Crisis (Memphis Crisis accessible), North MS Crisis Services
💡 North Mississippi borders Memphis—access Tennessee behavioral health jobs. Tupelo serves northeastern MS. DeSoto County is fast-growing Memphis suburb.
What You'll Learn During Your Externship
A behavioral health externship exposes you to real patient care in mental health settings. Here are skills you'll develop:
Patient Observation
Monitoring patient behavior, mood changes, and safety. Documenting observations accurately for clinical staff.
De-escalation Techniques
Learning verbal and non-verbal strategies to calm agitated patients. Crisis prevention and intervention basics.
Therapeutic Communication
Active listening, empathetic responses, and appropriate boundaries. Building rapport with patients in distress.
Documentation
Recording patient behaviors, incidents, and progress. Understanding behavioral health charting requirements.
ADL Assistance
Helping patients with daily activities—hygiene, meals, medication reminders. Supporting patient independence.
Safety Monitoring
Conducting safety checks, understanding suicide precautions, and maintaining secure environments.
Ready to Start Your MHT Career in Mississippi?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $650 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about MHT externships in Mississippi:
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