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Substance abuse services director vs mental health specialist

The differences between substance abuse services directors 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 substance abuse services director and a mental health specialist. Additionally, a substance abuse services director has an average salary of $83,088, which is higher than the $47,321 average annual salary of a mental health specialist.

The top three skills for a substance abuse services director include substance abuse, social work and substance abuse treatment. The most important skills for a mental health specialist are patients, social work, and rehabilitation.

Substance abuse services director vs mental health specialist overview

Substance Abuse Services DirectorMental Health Specialist
Yearly salary$83,088$47,321
Hourly rate$39.95$22.75
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs57,827131,449
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Substance abuse services director vs mental health specialist salary

Substance abuse services directors and mental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Substance Abuse Services DirectorMental Health Specialist
Average salary$83,088$47,321
Salary rangeBetween $54,000 And $125,000Between $31,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between substance abuse services director and mental health specialist education

There are a few differences between a substance abuse services director and a mental health specialist in terms of educational background:

Substance Abuse Services DirectorMental Health Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Substance abuse services director vs mental health specialist demographics

Here are the differences between substance abuse services directors' and mental health specialists' demographics:

Substance Abuse Services DirectorMental Health Specialist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 48.1% Female, 51.9%Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage15%15%

Differences between substance abuse services director and mental health specialist duties and responsibilities

Substance abuse services director example responsibilities.

  • Manage the departmental budget by adjusting therapist schedules to more efficiently schedule patients.
  • Re-Accredite program with CARF and new accreditation (CARF) of adolescent outpatient and intensive outpatient program.
  • Refocuse strategic mission of psychiatry toward integration and support of hospital services.
  • Perform patient chart audits ensuring proper documentation and patient care are provided per Medicare and Medicaid guidelines.
  • Negotiate contracts for inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation for HMO patients.
  • Create and implement psycho-educational groups pertaining to methadone and substance abuse and behavioral health.

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.
  • Show more

Substance abuse services director vs mental health specialist skills

Common substance abuse services director skills
  • Substance Abuse, 24%
  • Social Work, 14%
  • Substance Abuse Treatment, 10%
  • Treatment Programs, 6%
  • Treatment Services, 5%
  • Clinical Supervision, 5%
Common mental health specialist skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Social Work, 11%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Vital Signs, 4%

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