Help Wanted Behavioral Health Workforce and Public Warn Shortage of Workers Will Have Negative Impact on Society
New survey data from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, conducted by The Harris Poll, finds that the vast majority (83%) of the nation’s behavioral health workforce believes that without public policy changes, provider organizations won’t be able to meet the demand for mental health or substance use treatment and care. The survey, conducted among 750 behavioral health workers and more than 2,000 U.S. adults, also warns of a potential exodus of behavioral health workers due to burnout.
“As we prepare to observe Mental Health Awareness Month, we urge policymakers to listen to the voices of those in the field,” National Council for Mental Wellbeing President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia said. “Behavioral health organizations are seeing an increase in the severity of cases, and a backlog of young people in need of care has led to more youth being seen in emergency departments. Taking steps now to bolster the workforce through increased recruitment and retention efforts and the continued expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics will give organizations that provide mental health treatment and substance use care the resources they need to meet capacity.”
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KEY FINDINGS
- The vast majority (83%) of the nation’s behavioral health workforce believes that without public policy changes, provider organizations won’t be able to meet the demand for mental health or substance use treatment and care.
- Around nine in 10 behavioral health workers are concerned about the ability for those not currently receiving care to gain access to care (90%) and the ability to provide care in the event of another health crisis in the future (87%).
- Nearly two in three (65%) reported increased client caseload, and more than seven in 10 (72%) reported increased client severity since the COVID-19 pandemic.
- More than nine in 10 behavioral health workers (93%) said they have experienced burnout, and a majority report suffering from moderate or severe levels of burnout (62%).
- Nearly half (48%) of behavioral health workers say the impacts of workforce shortages have caused them to consider other employment options.
- More than four in five behavioral health workers (83%) worry that workforce shortages in the mental health and substance use industry will negatively impact society as a whole.
- A third of the workforce reported spending most of their time on administrative tasks, with 68% of those who provide care to patients saying the amount of time spent on administrative tasks takes away from time they could be directly supporting clients.
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“I’m deeply concerned about our ability to provide adequate mental health treatment and substance use care in the future,” said Tim Swinfard, president and CEO of Compass Health Network in Jefferson City, Mo., and National Council for Mental Wellbeing board chairman. “The behavioral health workforce is under incredible strain when the public needs them the most. We must make behavioral health treatment and care a priority, and the best way to do that is to bolster the substance use and mental health treatment workforce.”
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