There’s a Shortage of Mental Health Providers. Now What?
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From anxiety and depression to burnout and anger, the past few years have significantly impacted many people’s mental health. Thankfully, there’s been a silver lining to all this upheaval: Many people realized the importance of prioritizing their mental health. “We’ve seen a shift in the conversation at a national level on the need for mental health help,” says C. Vaile Wright, PhD, director of research and special projects in practice research and polity at the American Psychological Association. “I think, in part, this is due to social media. Celebrities and athletes use the platform to talk about their mental health in ways we’ve never seen before, which has a downstream impact on individuals to also talk about it and normalize it, and then seek out help.”
Therapists have noticed this shift, too. “The pandemic forced a lot of people to spend time with their emotions. And many people sought help because they were scared and confused by the range and intensity of those emotions,” says Lakeasha Sullivan, a clinical psychologist in Atlanta. “We were collectively grieving many things, including intangible losses like a sense of community and normalcy.”
Not only have the past few years led to destigmatizing mental health, but they’ve also opened up thinking on the breadth of experiences that warrant seeking help. Suddenly, therapy isn’t just for those labeled with clinical diagnoses of depression or anxiety. Pooja Sharma, a clinical psychologist in Berkeley, California, says that patients use therapy as a time to think, slow down, and share their ideas about the world around them. “For some, the past few years became a time when life moved a little slower, so there was more space to consider relationships, career, and identity.”
While this new awareness around the benefits of therapy is great, it’s also causing an alarming shortage of therapists to turn to. “It takes eight years to make a social worker, and it took eight months to create a demand crisis. That’s a problem,” says Ken Duckworth, MD, medical director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and assistant clinical professor at Harvard University Medical School. “Demand has exploded because people are isolated—we’re social creatures; we need to connect.” This statistic from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing brings the dilemma into focus: Seventy-seven percent of counties in the United States are experiencing a severe shortage of mental health providers.
“In the last year, I have seen a surge in people reaching out seeking support,” confirms Sharma. “When I speak to colleagues, we all share similar stories of not being able to meet the demand and being full with waitlists.” A survey conducted by The New York Times and Psychology Today of 1,320 mental health professionals in every state found that nine out of 10 therapists say the number of clients seeking care is on the rise.
Even if care is available in your area, many people don’t know how to find it—and don’t realize that mental health help has expanded beyond sitting on a couch in the office of a therapist. “Care should be available where you are, whether it’s from your home and your personal device to a local practice,” says Benjamin F. Miller, a psychologist and the president of Well Being Trust, a national foundation focusing on mental and spiritual health.
Luckily, that’s a sentiment that’s recently become much more of a reality. While the shortage of therapists is very real, there has also been a surge of new modalities (like online or even text therapy). To help you navigate both the shortage and these fresh offerings, we’ve created an easy-to-navigate guide to mental health resources.
How to Find Mental Health Support Now
Ask for a Referral
Hunting for a therapist might feel like a difficult process, but don’t give up. “If you find someone you like whose client list is full, ask for a referral,” advises Sharma. “Oftentimes, we know colleagues who might have a few spots or who are opening up a practice. If a therapist has a waitlist, add your name to it because the wait may be shorter than you think.” And in your search, don’t limit yourself by location—many providers will conduct sessions via video or phone, expanding your options tremendously. “Telehealth is a winning strategy,” says Duckworth. “Creating this type of access was the quickest pivot in mental health history. And it’s effective.”
Consider a Trainee
If you’re game to talk to someone who’s still in the process of getting their degree as a mental health provider, this is a great option. A clinician in training works under the supervision of a licensed professional, so you aren’t skimping on getting solid care, and at the same time you’ll save on the fee, since they typically offer reduced rates. The Association of Psychology Training Clinics will guide you, or you can call your local university and inquire about whether they have a training clinic that offers sessions, either in-person or virtually.
Call a Warmline
This isn’t ongoing therapy, but for those times when you just need to talk, it’s there for you. Warmlines are phone numbers you call to have a conversation about anything on your mind with a supportive and understanding trained staffer who has been through their own mental health issues.
Try an Online Service
Virtual therapy has grown enormously over the past few years, providing mental health resources to pretty much anyone, anywhere, anytime. But can it be as helpful as in-person sessions? Studies say yes. One 2015 review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews analyzed 30 studies of 2,181 patients, and found that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) was on par with an in-office experience for treating anxiety.
The many online services differ in focus and style, but overall they work like this: After an onboarding assessment, you’re matched with a therapist and given a variety of options to choose from, like video sessions, phone calls, texting, or some combination of all three. There are a variety of great platforms available—including ones that were created to cater to specific needs and communities. Below are highly regarded options that fit a variety of needs:
For a large variety of therapist options: BetterHelp
For those who want to explore psychiatric care: Talkspace
For couples therapy: ReGain
For marginalized and intersectional communities: Ayana Therapy
For those who identify as LGBTQIU+: Pride Counseling
For indigenous people: Rising Hearts
Join a Group
Group therapy, where a therapist guides discussions and progress for people with similar issues and experiences, is an excellent option, says Wright. “It maximizes access because a therapist can get eight people in one hour, and it’s a very effective form of treatment. In addition to learning the therapy skills you would learn in a one-to-one situation, you also get the benefit of validation—you’re not alone; there are others struggling like you are.” And during this time when so many people are feeling isolated and disconnected, group sessions serve double duty as a built-in community. Another plus: They’re more affordable than one-on-one sessions, and sometimes even free. You can search for group therapists, both live meet-ups and virtual, through online resources like Circles, National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Group Psychotherapy Association, and Psychology Today.
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