Skip to main content

California PACEs Action

Unanswered cries: Why California faces a shortage of mental health workers (calmatters.org)

 

Illustration by Chanelle Nibbelink for CalMatters

Author: Jocelyn Wiener's article, please click here.

The need for therapists, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists is greater than ever. Under relentless pressure from the pandemic and inflation, wildfires and gun violence, racism and war, Californians are crying out for help.

But that doesn’t mean they can get it.

In every corner of mental health right now, a similar story is being told. There simply aren’t enough providers.

CalMatters spoke with more than two dozen mental health experts, public officials and providers around California to ask about the impacts of the mental health provider shortage, and what can be done about it. Their responses ranged from desperate to hopeful.

All agree we are at a pivotal movement.

In part, that’s because Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is investing heavily in overhauling the state’s mental health system. At the same time, the state has recently enacted laws requiring insurers to provide timely access to mental health care. Some worry a lack of providers could jeopardize these bold new initiatives. Others see this as an opportunity to reimagine how mental health care in the state is delivered.

Add Comment

Comments (1)

Newest · Oldest · Popular

This is bad news, but nothing new. The "free market" does not work for health services, except to make gobs of money for corporations and businesses. All the other wealthy countries in the world recognize health care as a "public good" which means they subsidize it and plan for its equitable distribution as best as their resources allow.

Here in the US, behavioral health services require intensive person to person time - robots need not apply. Business oriented efficiencies do not exist or degrade service. Provider training is not well planned. Provider reembursement lags behind other professions and cost of living. Personal dedication is a prerequisite for burnout, not professional success.

This situation is especially important to the PACES Connection communities. As we are gaining more capability to identify individuals harmed or traumatized by abuse and neglect or domestic violence we are running into the systemic problem of a shortage of behavioral health workers trained in skills necessary to aid people with these experiences. It is probably more harmful to identify people traumatized by ACES and then not be able to supply them with good therapy, than to leave them undiagnosed. The national shortage of behavioral health workers and a solid national mental system is a disgrace that effects all of us now. PACES Connection needs to promote a massive national investment in mental health providers and services.

Copyright © 2023, PACEsConnection. All rights reserved.
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×