Bringing the Workforce Shortage into Focus

Abstract

The level of distress and crisis that people are experiencing is infinitely higher . We see more people in severe crisis due to homelessness, substance abuse, and lack of hope." 1 We hear a lot about workforce shortages and the dire implications for those in need. But when you talk to the people who are trying to make a difference, it's personal. These words are especially painful to me: We're in the business of hope, and it's being stolen from us.We're also in the business of solutions. And nobody is taking that away from us! As the President and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing (National Council), it's part of my job to talk to our members, and it's by far my favorite part. But sometimes, it's difficult to hear about the toll their dedication takes on them, their staff, and the very people they're helping.When you represent more than 3100 mental health and substance use treatment organizations, you'd better know what's going on in the field. Talking with our members is my window into our world. But it's not the whole picture.The workforce shortage is nothing new. Limited funding streams for behavioral health, along with non-competitive salaries, created the foundation of the workforce shortage that has developed over time. But we are now at a tipping point, and we hover on the precipice of a shortage that has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We at the National Council wanted to truly understand the scope of the problems in real numbers.That's why we partnered with Morning Consult to find out the impact of COVID-19 on the behavioral health workforce and embarked on an online survey of a national sample of 260 National Council members. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percent.The results confirmed our worst suspicions: 1 78 percent of the surveyed organizations reported the demand for their services had increased in the previous three months; 62 percent of organizations reported growing patient waitlists; and a staggering 97 percent reported trouble recruiting and retaining employees.One of those surveyed reported, "A local refuse company is offering $7,500 sign-on bonus to drive a garbage truck! We can't compete with that…" What a sad commentary. The organizations