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The differences between crisis intervention specialists and mental health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a crisis intervention specialist and a mental health specialist. Additionally, a crisis intervention specialist has an average salary of $54,678, which is higher than the $47,321 average annual salary of a mental health specialist.
The top three skills for a crisis intervention specialist include social work, patients and substance abuse. The most important skills for a mental health specialist are patients, social work, and rehabilitation.
| Crisis Intervention Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $54,678 | $47,321 |
| Hourly rate | $26.29 | $22.75 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 80,817 | 131,449 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A crisis intervention specialist provides counseling services and intervention to patients in high-stress situations. Their responsibilities include conducting assessments to understand the clients' conditions, studying their medical histories and personal background, developing treatment plans, and regularly monitoring their behavior and progress. They may also coordinate with the patients' families or guardians, provide care advice, or refer patients to other specialists when necessary. Moreover, a crisis intervention specialist gives emotional support and guidance to patients, helping them deal with stress.
A mental health specialist is responsible for evaluating a patient's mental health condition and develop appropriate treatment plans to help the patients cope up with their mental difficulties. Mental health specialists provide counseling to the patients, listening to their situation, and responding with the utmost consideration. They also create regular progress reports and medical charts to monitor ongoing medication, updating treatment plans as needed. A mental health specialist must have excellent communication and organization skills, helping the patients deal with their mental stress and return to a healthy lifestyle.
Crisis intervention specialists and mental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Crisis Intervention Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $54,678 | $47,321 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $73,000 | Between $31,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hoboken, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Legacy Health | Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a crisis intervention specialist and a mental health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Crisis Intervention Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between crisis intervention specialists' and mental health specialists' demographics:
| Crisis Intervention Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.6% Female, 70.4% | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 15% | 15% |