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The differences between health support specialists and mental health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a health support specialist, becoming a mental health specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mental health specialist has an average salary of $47,321, which is higher than the $31,552 average annual salary of a health support specialist.
The top three skills for a health support specialist include patients, social work and CPR. The most important skills for a mental health specialist are patients, social work, and rehabilitation.
| Health Support Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $31,552 | $47,321 |
| Hourly rate | $15.17 | $22.75 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 152,897 | 131,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Health Support Specialists are professionals who assist medical professionals in providing health care to improve or restore the mental or physical well-being of their patients. These specialists must create health plans for families while accompanying children with their appointments to receive the necessary health care that is mandated by the federal government. They are required to provide mental health support services by conducting community outreach programs with local vendors and organizations. Health Support Specialists must also conduct counseling sessions for adolescents about substance abuse.
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.
Health support specialists and mental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Health Support Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $31,552 | $47,321 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $42,000 | Between $31,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Medtronic | Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Government |
There are a few differences between a health support specialist and a mental health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Health Support Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between health support specialists' and mental health specialists' demographics:
| Health Support Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 9.4% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 | 11% | 15% |