Recognize that behavioral health professionals serve communities with varying backgrounds, and understanding cultural nuances is essential. Establish mentorship programs to guide students toward behavioral health professions. By nurturing a resilient workforce, we can better meet the mental health needs of our communities. The shortage of providers hinders timely interventions, leading to potential exacerbation of mental health conditions.

Training

A telehealth initiative might involve a pilot project providing remote counseling services to rural areas. Training in policy analysis and advocacy can empower workers to influence legislation that affects their practice and the well-being of their clients. For instance, a training module might include case studies that require collaborative problem-solving across different specialties, preparing professionals for real-world scenarios. Continuing education and Certification programs The success of these collaborations hinges on a shared vision and a commitment to overcoming the systemic barriers that have historically fragmented the behavioral health system. An illustration of this is a community center that partners with a network of therapists to offer culturally sensitive counseling at a reduced cost.

Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor

States are making significant investments to expand access to behavioral health services and address workforce shortages and maldistribution. Global models for task sharing, combined with U.S.-led studies of nonspecialists delivering interventions for depression and anxiety, support the development of this workforce in a stepped care system. Recruiting and selecting students who are willing to commit to post-graduation employment for at least 36 (or 18) months in a target community behavioral health agency or tribal health center. Although each NSP role has its unique historic roots and is regulated somewhat differently in the United States, behavioral health researchers and policymakers have proposed increasing all of these NSP provider types to expand the workforce. “We have been facing a workforce crisis in mental health for years due to a shortage of behavioral health specialists. The creation of the Center is a milestone in a long-term plan to address the behavioral health workforce emergency.

• Even as these examples provide promising models to grow the workforce, sustainability comes when there is a reimbursement model in place for mental and behavioral health services.
• Through these partnerships, the workforce is not only expanded quantitatively but also qualitatively, with professionals who are well-prepared to meet the complex demands of behavioral health services.
• Implement referral bonuses or recognition programs to motivate employees to actively participate in recruitment efforts.
• The most common next steps in the career ladder are to pursue managerial roles or clinical roles, both of which maintain the core responsibilities of peer workers.

Even as these examples provide promising models to grow the workforce, sustainability comes when there is a reimbursement model in place for mental and behavioral health services. This not only attracts more individuals from diverse communities into the field but ensures they possess the essential skills to deliver high-quality mental and behavioral healthcare. Of those, according to Mental Health America, more than half (54.7%, which is an estimated 28 million people) do not receive How Right Now: Mental Health Resources any treatment and more than one in four individuals (28.2%) do not receive adequate treatment, due to issues related to access to mental health care, worker shortages, and excessive costs. Our leadership team frequently shares our collective expertise and best practices in workforce development with renowned organizations like the World Health Organization, the National Governors Association (NGA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and various national, public, and employer groups.

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is stepping up to the challenge, creating accessible, effective educational pathways to behavioral health careers. FCBHW also translates research and stakeholder input into policy recommendations that strengthen retention and improve access to care while engaging health systems, academic institutions, state agencies and community partners to align strategies. The center is actively addressing critical workforce challenges through original research, mentorship programs with stipends spanning from high school through graduate education, and training initiatives to mitigate provider shortages and promote evidence-based practices. Through strong legislative support, strategic partnerships with academic institutions and health systems, and formalized governance structures, BHECN has built a coordinated, data-informed approach to workforce development. In North Carolina, the Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center at the Sheps Center (UNC-Chapel Hill) (UNC-BHWRC) plays a critical national role in supporting the behavioral health workforce. It utilized a formal application process to compose the membership, tailored to include clinical leaders, research experts, and higher education partners to prioritize an evidence-informed approach to strengthening and diversifying the behavioral health workforce.