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The differences between youth mentors and mental health associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a youth mentor, becoming a mental health associate takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mental health associate has an average salary of $36,510, which is higher than the $32,750 average annual salary of a youth mentor.
The top three skills for a youth mentor include mental health, substance abuse and eating disorders. The most important skills for a mental health associate are patients, customer service, and vital signs.
| Youth Mentor | Mental Health Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $32,750 | $36,510 |
| Hourly rate | $15.75 | $17.55 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 68,561 | 122,947 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Youth mentors are adult individuals who are responsible for creating programs to improve the well-being of young people by providing role models that can support them academically and socially. These mentors must educate the community on issues related to mental health while making regular home visits to youth and young adults. They should provide direct care and assistance to adolescents who are with substance abuse issues by creating an educational curriculum on the said topic. Youth mentors are also required to collaborate with mental health professionals and social workers to coordinate counseling efforts.
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.
Youth mentors and mental health associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Youth Mentor | Mental Health Associate | |
| Average salary | $32,750 | $36,510 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $41,000 | Between $25,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Maine | New York |
| Best paying company | LifeWorks | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a youth mentor and a mental health associate in terms of educational background:
| Youth Mentor | Mental Health Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between youth mentors' and mental health associates' demographics:
| Youth Mentor | Mental Health Associate | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% | 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% |