O*NET-SOC 21-1023.00

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.

Preparation

ItemValue
Preparation zoneZone 5 – Extensive preparation needed
What O*NET says the zone requiresExtensive skill, knowledge, or experience is needed
Broad occupation in O*NETTrue (Yes)
Skills listed for this occupation6
Abilities listed for this occupation6
Tasks listed for this occupation5
Interest scores given for this occupation6

Skills

The 6 skills with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

SkillO*NET elementImportanceDate
Social Perceptiveness2.B.1.a4.2508/2021
Active Listening2.A.1.b4.1208/2021
Speaking2.A.1.d4.1208/2021
Critical Thinking2.A.2.a4.008/2021
Monitoring2.A.2.d4.008/2021
Reading Comprehension2.A.1.a4.008/2021

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Abilities

The 6 abilities with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

AbilityO*NET elementImportanceDate
Oral Comprehension1.A.1.a.14.508/2021
Oral Expression1.A.1.a.34.2508/2021
Problem Sensitivity1.A.1.b.34.1208/2021
Written Comprehension1.A.1.a.24.1208/2021
Written Expression1.A.1.a.44.1208/2021
Deductive Reasoning1.A.1.b.44.008/2021

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Tasks

The tasks O*NET records for this occupation, with the type, respondent count and date each record carries.

TaskTypeIncumbents respondingDate
Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.Core6908/2021
Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.Core6908/2021
Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.Core6908/2021
Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.Core6908/2021
Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.Core6908/2021

Work interests

The interest scores O*NET gives this occupation, on the six interest types.

InterestScoreDate
Social6.9611/2023
Investigative4.0811/2023
Conventional3.0511/2023
Artistic2.7811/2023
Enterprising2.4211/2023
Realistic1.7211/2023

More occupations in preparation zone 5

Source: O*NET 29.1 Database (Occupation Data, Job Zones, Skills, Abilities, Task Statements, Interests), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Data fetched 2026-10-31. See about and sources.