Cheat Sheet
Behavioral healthcare workforce shortage
June 30, 2022
10 Minute Read
Key Takeaways
- The behavioral health workforce shortage isn’t exclusive to a particular type of clinician and includes a wide variety of professionals across the care continuum.
- The sheer number of professionals isn’t the only facet of the behavioral health workforce shortage. Even if a professional is easily available in a patient’s community, they may not accept all insurance or have the right clinical expertise for a patient’s specific condition. The current workforce also lacks robust representation from marginalized populations, limiting choice for patients hoping to work with a professional who shares aspects of their identity.
- Factors affecting the supply of behavioral health professionals include high retirement rates with low entry rates, cumbersome reimbursement methods, emotional burnout, and policy and credential restrictions.