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Social worker vs mental health specialist

The differences between social workers 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 social worker, becoming a mental health specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a social worker has an average salary of $50,102, which is higher than the $47,321 average annual salary of a mental health specialist.

The top three skills for a social worker include social work, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a mental health specialist are patients, social work, and rehabilitation.

Social worker vs mental health specialist overview

Social WorkerMental Health Specialist
Yearly salary$50,102$47,321
Hourly rate$24.09$22.75
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs77,340131,449
Job satisfaction4.5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4545
Years of experience24

What does a social worker do?

Social workers help their clients get through problems that they may be facing. Social workers help identify individuals or groups of people, usually families, who may need assistance, generally through a set of pre-determined criteria. They then determine the best ways to help their clients by interviewing them, getting to know them, and understanding the context of their lives. They create plans that will help their clients become better, such as integrating into a new environment, assisting them in their needs, or even rescuing them from their current place. Social workers have good interpersonal skills and communication skills.

What does a mental health specialist do?

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.

Social worker vs mental health specialist salary

Social workers and mental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Social WorkerMental Health Specialist
Average salary$50,102$47,321
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $67,000Between $31,000 And $71,000
Highest paying CityPortland, ORSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateOregonCalifornia
Best paying companyHealth AdvocatesResearch Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between social worker and mental health specialist education

There are a few differences between a social worker and a mental health specialist in terms of educational background:

Social WorkerMental Health Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorSocial WorkPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Social worker vs mental health specialist demographics

Here are the differences between social workers' and mental health specialists' demographics:

Social WorkerMental Health Specialist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 19.5% Female, 80.5%Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% 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 Percentage13%15%

Differences between social worker and mental health specialist duties and responsibilities

Social worker example responsibilities.

  • Assist clients in achieving treatment goals such as anger, ADHD, grief, social skills, and manners.
  • Lead and co-le CBT and DBT skills-base groups with participants, as well as relapse prevention, mindfulness and process groups.
  • Support patient questions and issues regarding Medicare ESRD entitlement and Medicaid and assist in the completion of the appropriate documentation.
  • Coordinate IPU discharge planning patients to SNF, ALF, PCH or in-home care with necessary support for care.
  • Facilitate relationships with AKF and other patient assistance programs, VA, Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance providers.
  • Complete Medicaid and Medicare applications as needed.
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Mental health specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.
  • Assist and encourage patients with ADL's including feeding, ambulating, and hygiene to promote patient care.
  • Utilize rehabilitation principles to support individuals, families and communities in developing effective strategies to improve client mental health functioning.
  • Provide psychological care to patients in an in-patient psych unit, including facilitating group activities, crisis intervention, implementing therapeutic approaches
  • Meet physical requirements to complete SAMA and CPR training.
  • Provide kindness and compassion to the deceased and their families.
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Social worker vs mental health specialist skills

Common social worker skills
  • Social Work, 30%
  • Patients, 15%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • MSW, 4%
  • Discharge Planning, 4%
  • Home Health, 4%
Common mental health specialist skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Social Work, 11%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Vital Signs, 4%

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