The United States is facing a rising deficit of licensed behavioral health care specialists such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers, at a time when rates of substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness are reaching new peaks. Approximately 37% of Americans (around 122 million) reside in areas designated as “mental health shortage areas” by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The HRSA also forecasts that this shortage could escalate to about 35,000 full-time employees by 2030. This issue is further aggravated by a long-standing gap in behavioral health technology, with nearly a third of SUD and behavioral health providers relying on manual or homegrown solutions to track patient outcomes, leading to blindspots in patient treatment outcomes and limiting clinicians’ abilities.
The skills and data shortage in behavioral health and SUD treatment providers is causing ongoing disparities in access and insights for some of the most vulnerable populations, including lower-income, Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), and the LGBTQ+ community. These groups already suffer from complex trauma, co-occurring behavioral health issues, and substance abuse due to pre-existing barriers such as stigma, underinsurance, steep costs, and a shortage of licensed clinicians and therapists in their communities. This lack of access leads to significantly worse outcomes, with rates of suicidal ideation being highest among LGBTQ+ youth.
To address this growing problem, federal policymakers need to foster a behavioral health workforce that relies less on licensed professionals. The workforce could be diversified by nurturing a larger role for behavioral health support specialists (BHSSs), who can provide crucial non-clinical behavioral health services, and by leveraging existing community support networks to supplement the behavioral health care patients receive. Additionally, more investment in technology is required to harness the data necessary to improve the current care baseline and operate more efficiently.
Solving the problems facing behavioral health will require a coordinated effort at both the national and provider level. The future of SUD and behavioral health care depends on a commitment to innovative policy ideas and digital solutions. A combination of better data and progressive policy can help address these systemic problems, transforming the behavioral healthcare continuum with actionable solutions and insights
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