The United States faces a growing shortage of licensed behavioral health care specialists—psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers—and that shortage comes at a time when rates of mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD) are high and rising. The shortage has severely limited access to treatment, particularly among underserved communities. To help address the access gap, federal policymakers should take steps to foster a behavioral health workforce that extends beyond licensed professionals. Read the report
Filling the Gaps in the Behavioral Health Workforce
