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The differences between community health interns and mental health associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a community health internship and a mental health associate. Additionally, a mental health associate has an average salary of $36,510, which is higher than the $32,586 average annual salary of a community health internship.
The top three skills for a community health internship include patients, mental health and public health. The most important skills for a mental health associate are patients, customer service, and vital signs.
| Community Health Internship | Mental Health Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $32,586 | $36,510 |
| Hourly rate | $15.67 | $17.55 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 113,667 | 122,947 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A community health intern is responsible for assisting the community staff with the health services and responsibilities for the citizens. Community health interns should help in identifying health opportunities, provide solutions for community health problems, and inform citizens of health issues. They also suggest programs promote a healthy environment, research and create reports on health education, and communicate with health departments for health services. A community health intern must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as time-management and the ability to multi-task to perform duties in a fast-paced environment under minimal supervision.
As a mental health associate, you will assist the medical team members in diagnosing and treating individuals with mental, developmental, and behavioral conditions. You may be tasked to facilitate individual and group therapy sessions, help patients with their day-to-day activities such as self-care and hygiene, and assist in administering medications prescribed by physicians. Other duties include planning and leading program activities, attending treatment rounds, and assisting with the physical care of patients. The qualifications and skills required for this role include a bachelor's degree in social science or psychology, previous work experience, and certification on basic life support.
Community health interns and mental health associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Community Health Internship | Mental Health Associate | |
| Average salary | $32,586 | $36,510 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $44,000 | Between $25,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | City of Baltimore | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Government | Professional |
There are a few differences between a community health internship and a mental health associate in terms of educational background:
| Community Health Internship | Mental Health Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between community health interns' and mental health associates' demographics:
| Community Health Internship | Mental Health Associate | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.5% Female, 75.5% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 21% | 15% |