The mental health and substance use treatment workforce crisis is a health care crisis. As the demand for services continues to grow, organizations face challenges with recruitment, retention and burnout. They need sustainable approaches to expanding their workforce.
More than 9 in 10 behavioral health workers (93%) say they experience burnout.
By 2037, the Health Resources and Services Administration projects shortages of nearly 88,000 mental health counselors and 114,000 addiction counselors
HRSA estimates that demand for SUD Counselors will increase by 59% while supply will decrease by 28% by 2037.
Our Workforce Strategy
The behavioral health workforce faces challenges at every level — from individual career paths to system-level obstacles. Our workforce strategy addresses this full ecosystem. We support the growth of strong leaders in the field, create healthier workplace cultures and shape policies that bolster the behavioral health workforce. By addressing individual, organizational and system-level factors simultaneously, we strengthen the entire system supporting behavioral health professionals across the field.
Individual Pathways
Strengthening Workforce Pathways through Recruitment, Retention and Advancement
Organizational Support
Supporting Organizations to Build their Workforce Capacity
Policies and Systems
Changing Workforce Systems Through Policy
Program Spotlight:
National Mental Health Workforce Acceleration Collaborative
“The [Accelerator] program offers consistent support through mentorship and professional development, which can be hard to find on your own. Being part of a community of others going through the same process has made a big difference, because it helped me feel less isolated and more encouraged to stay in the field.”
— Zach Mildren, Program Candidate Ambassador
Learn how the National Mental Health Workforce Acceleration Collaborative supports the next generation of behavioral health providers.
