New Study: Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage Will Negatively Impact Society

WASHINGTON, DC (April 25, 2023) — New survey data from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, conducted by The Harris Poll, finds that the vast majority (83%) of the nation’s behavioral health workforce believes that without public policy changes, provider organizations won’t be able to meet the demand for mental health or substance use treatment and care. The survey, conducted among 750 behavioral health workers and more than 2,000 U.S. adults, also warns of a potential exodus of behavioral health workers due to burnout.

“As we prepare to observe Mental Health Awareness Month, we urge policymakers to listen to the voices of those in the field,” National Council for Mental Wellbeing President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia said. “Behavioral health organizations are seeing an increase in the severity of cases, and a backlog of young people in need of care has led to more youth being seen in emergency departments. Taking steps now to bolster the workforce through increased recruitment and retention efforts and the continued expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics will give organizations that provide mental health treatment and substance use care the resources they need to meet capacity.”

KEY FINDINGS

• The vast majority (83%) of the nation’s behavioral health workforce believes that without public policy changes, provider organizations won’t be able to meet the demand for mental health or substance use treatment and care. 
• Around nine in 10 behavioral health workers are concerned about the ability for those not currently receiving care to gain access to care (90%) and the ability to provide care in the event of another health crisis in the future (87%).
• Nearly two in three (65%) reported increased client caseload, and more than seven in 10 (72%) reported increased client severity since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• More than nine in 10 behavioral health workers (93%) said they have experienced burnout, and a majority report suffering from moderate or severe levels of burnout (62%).
• Nearly half (48%) of behavioral health workers say the impacts of workforce shortages have caused them to consider other employment options.
• More than four in five behavioral health workers (83%) worry that workforce shortages in the mental health and substance use industry will negatively impact society as a whole.
• A third of the workforce reported spending most of their time on administrative tasks, with 68% of those who provide care to patients saying the amount of time spent on administrative tasks takes away from time they could be directly supporting clients.

The National Council has identified numerous solutions to address workforce shortages in the field of mental health and substance use treatment and care, including:

DETAILED FINDINGS

Despite challenges created by the workforce shortage, a majority of those in the behavioral health field remain passionate about and fulfilled by their work. Nearly all employees are satisfied with their ability to make a difference for their clients (96%) and to help others at their current job (95%). However, workers say they face significant new challenges:

• Four in five (82%) say their passion for working in the industry is unwavering.
• Administrative tasks take away from time they could be directly supporting clients (68% of those who see clients and have administrative tasks).
• Their waitlist is longer than ever (58% of those who provide care to clients).
• They are seeing more than their ideal number of clients on a weekly basis (31% of those who provide care to clients).
• More than nine in 10 behavioral health workers (93%) said they have experienced burnout, and a majority report suffering from moderate or severe levels of burnout (62% reporting their level of burnout is an 8, 9 or 10 on a scale from 1 to 10 where 1 is no burnout at all and 10 is significantly burned out).
• Their work has had some negative impact on their life (80%), including their own mental health (37%).
• The impacts of workforce shortages have caused them to consider other employment options (48%).

The shortage shows no sign of easing. By 2025, the U.S. will be short about 31,000 full-time equivalent mental health practitioners, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Behavioral health workers and the general public worry that the workforce shortage will negatively impact society. This comes at a time when access to care remains challenging and the number and severity of mental health and substance use cases has increased, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nation’s behavioral health workforce says a shortage of workers in the substance use and mental health field harms their ability to provide care and has made it more difficult for people to receive treatment, and large majorities of behavioral health workers and the general public worry about the impact of the workforce shortage on the health of the public:

• COVID-19 has led to increases in client severity (72%) and caseload (65%) among those who provide care to clients.
• More than four in five behavioral health workers (83%) and three-quarters of the general public (75%) worry that workforce shortages in mental health and substance use treatment will negatively impact society as a whole.
• More than eight in 10 behavioral health workers (84%) and nearly eight in 10 of the general public (78%) said people most in need of care have the most difficulty receiving it.
• Three-quarters of behavioral health workers (76%) fear the number of lives that will be lost due to lack of access caused by workforce shortages.
• Six in 10 (60%) say they are kept up at night thinking about those not able to access the care they need.
• Majorities of behavioral health workers are concerned about the ability for those not currently receiving care to gain access to the treatment they need (90%) or the ability to provide care in the event of another health crisis in the future (87%).

Behavioral health workers also said the following would help reduce the challenges in the mental health and substance use field created by the workforce shortages:

46%

more telehealth options

42%

apprenticeship programs

37%

student loan forgiveness

Additionally, 38% say less time spent on administrative tasks would help them better serve their clients.

“The workforce shortage is our top challenge and our top priority. It’s vital for the future of substance use care and mental health treatment that we have multiple avenues to attract and retain workers,” said Reyna Taylor, senior vice president of public policy and advocacy at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. “So, we will continue to speak with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and promote programs that improve recruitment and retention and promote self-care among the current work force.”

Methodology

The research was conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing among 750 behavioral health workers (defined as adults age 18+ who work in the mental health and substance use disorder treatment industry). The survey was conducted between February 3-19, 2023. Data are weighted where necessary to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. For method details please contact WilliamG@thenationalcouncil.org. The research also included a sample of the general public, to serve as a point of comparison. That research was conducted online February 7-9, 2023, among 2,080 adults ages 18+.

Download the Results

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