Why is There a Shortage of Mental Health Providers?
The past few years have been hard. As we’ve covered in previous posts, there have been many stressful occurrences that have affected the world as a whole - the pandemic, as it stretches into its third year, the crisis in Ukraine, and shootings that occur daily. Stress affects mental health, so it’s no surprise that people are seeking out mental health professionals at increasing rates. Unfortunately, it seems there aren’t always enough of them to go around.
As of March 31st, 37% of the U.S. population is living in an area that is experiencing a shortage of mental health professionals. Certain regions of the country are hit harder than others, with New England having the most psychologists per capita (55.6 per 100,000) and the Pacific region having the least (36.1 per 100,000). Additionally, shortages are most likely to occur in rural areas, with some of these areas having no mental health professionals at all.
Many therapists, faced with an overwhelming work load, are closing their doors to new patients, making it harder for those who need support to find resources. The shortage can also make it even harder to find specialized treatment, such as care for children. Although the problem isn’t new - there has long been a shortage of mental health professionals - the pandemic has greatly exacerbated the issue.
Some hope that the shortage will create a push for our mental health systems in the United States to be reevaluated and revamped. Steps are already being taken to address this, with the President having announced a strategy to address the nation’s mental health crisis in March of this year. Tactics discussed have included expanding the supply of mental health professionals by providing opportunity and incentive for them to practice in areas that are experiencing the highest amount of need.
If you are experiencing a shortage in your area and are unable to find treatment, check out NAMI’s free support groups, which are peer-led and offer participants an opportunity to share their experiences and gain support from other attendees.