The Census Bureau reported that 30% of American adults had symptoms consistent with an anxiety or depression diagnosis as of May 24. While the pandemic has exacerbated underlying mental health issues for many Americans, barriers to receiving mental health care have existed for years.
A central issue is the lack of mental health care professionals. The Health Resources and Services Administration tracks health professional shortage areas, which are geographic areas, population groups, or health care facilities designated as having a shortage of health providers. Areas are designated as having a shortage if they meet certain criteria: the ratio of mental health providers (e.g., psychiatrists, clinical social workers, therapists, etc.), the poverty rate, the proportion of the area that is either young or elderly, the prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse, and travel time to a facility.
An estimated 122 million Americans, or 37% of the population, lived in 5,833 mental health professional shortage areas as of March 31. The nation needs an additional 6,398 mental health providers to fill these shortage gaps.
