Integrated behavioral health, which incorporates behavioral health services into general medical settings, is an effective approach to improving access to mental health care. The psychiatric collaborative care model (CoCM), a team-based approach involving a primary care provider, behavioral health care manager, and consulting psychiatrist, has strong evidence supporting its effectiveness for treating conditions such as…
Peer support services have become an increasingly important component of behavioral health care, with growing evidence supporting their effectiveness in helping individuals recover from mental health and substance use challenges. As demand for these services has expanded, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, there is increasing need to better understand how Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSSs)…
Peer Recovery Support Specialists (PRSS) play a crucial role in the behavioral health workforce, assisting individuals in their recovery from substance use and mental health challenges. Despite their essential contributions to the behavioral health field, research on resilience among peers remains limited. This article examines how PRSSs’ personal resilience and their satisfaction with supervisor and…
A shortage of behavioral health clinicians is limiting access to mental health care across the United States, particularly in areas designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (mHPSAs). Retaining clinicians in these high-need areas is essential to improving access. This article examines behavioral health clinicians’ assessments of various job and workplace factors associated with their…
In 2023, nearly 25% of the US population aged 12 or older used illicit drugs, and over 17% met the criteria for a substance use disorder (SUD), with synthetic opioids and excessive alcohol use driving a sharp rise in drug-related deaths. Despite the growing need for SUD treatment, significant access gaps remain—especially for individuals from…
To address the behavioral health workforce crisis in the United States, it is essential to support students who are interested in pursuing careers in behavioral health. Exploring the various educational pathways into these professions is a critical step, as it can reveal opportunities to expand the supply of qualified, culturally, and linguistically representative providers. This…
The United States is grappling with a behavioral health crisis worsened by workforce shortages, which restrict access to treatment. States are responding by creating new roles and expanding existing ones within the behavioral health workforce. However, misalignment in training, regulation, and payment policies undermines the effective deployment of these roles to address needs. This article…
Community health workers are an important workforce for health care systems to achieve health equity and reduce health disparities in vulnerable communities. However, because CHWs are a non-licensed workforce who work across system settings with various job titles, it is difficult to estimate and characterize this workforce. This article discusses the estimated size and state…
