In every corner of mentalhealth right now, a similar story is being told. There simply aren’t enough providers.
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.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.In part, that’s because Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is investing heavily in overhauling the state’s mental health system.
A new report from the California Health Care Foundation shows that the Bay Area has 19 licensed psychiatrists and 73 licensed psychologists per 100,000 people – significantly more than the state averages of 12 and 44. At the other end of the spectrum, the San Joaquin Valley has six psychiatrists and 16 psychologists for the equivalent number of people.
What we do know: We need more and better data. For instance, some experts say the increase described by Ghaly does not reflect how many licensed providers are actually seeing patients, nor does it capture how many are seeing people who are uninsured or on Medi-Cal. Many clinicians say they’re simply exhausted. It’s not just that more people need help, but many of them are coming in sicker, with mental health issues that have gone untreated.
“Sometimes in our field, the assumption is that since you get value out of your work, you don’t need to be as compensated,” he said. Candy Curiel, clinical director of Pacific Clinics for the Inland Empire, said inflation is making the situation even worse.3. Everyone is competing with everyone else. Is this a zero sum game?
Adrienne Shilton, senior policy advocate for the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, called the $200 million to establish a new scholarship program for master’s level clinicians “a big win.”She wonders how counties can possibly compete. Even as it contributes to burnout, the increasing demand has, in some ways, opened new doors for clinicians.
Karen Larsen, chief executive officer of The Steinberg Institute, a nonprofit that advocates on mental health policy, is also concerned. Prior to assuming her current role, Larsen spent two decades as head of Yolo County’s behavioral health department. To meet growing need, new providers also must be brought in. Scholarships and loan repayment programs are helpful, but universities need more spots to train new clinicians.“We’re making much bigger investments in the behavioral health workforce than we have since I started engaging in this field in the 90s,” she said.
It includes more people with shared life experiences and those who live in the local community, he said.
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