Texas is in urgent need of more well-trained and supported mental health professionals. The majority of the state's counties are characterized by a shortage of mental health professionals, with declines in supply in recent years most notably affecting rural areas. Both leaders of Texas state agencies and community healthcare organizations report extensive problems in recruitment and retention and insufficient training capacity. Existing supply gaps in mental health providers are likely to increase as an aging workforce begins to retire and job availability for mental health professions increases. Despite the number of Texas universities offering professional education in mental health fields, insufficient attempts are being made to research and promote organized and widespread recruitment and retention activities. People of color are underrepresented in mental health professions, and Texas appears to be lacking in effective racial and culturally diverse recruitment in the mental health professions. This snapshot of the current state of the Texas mental health workforce provides preliminary information to highlight issues that key stakeholders--professionals, employers, higher education, consumers of services, and licensing boards, among others--must address to assure the availability of a qualified mental health workforce.
C4 -This grey literature reference is included in the Academy's Literature Collection in keeping with our mission to gather all sources of information on integration. Grey literature is comprised of materials that are not made available through traditional publishing avenues. Often, the information from unpublished resources can be limited and the risk of bias cannot be determined.
C5 - Education & Workforce; Grey Literature N2 -Texas is in urgent need of more well-trained and supported mental health professionals. The majority of the state's counties are characterized by a shortage of mental health professionals, with declines in supply in recent years most notably affecting rural areas. Both leaders of Texas state agencies and community healthcare organizations report extensive problems in recruitment and retention and insufficient training capacity. Existing supply gaps in mental health providers are likely to increase as an aging workforce begins to retire and job availability for mental health professions increases. Despite the number of Texas universities offering professional education in mental health fields, insufficient attempts are being made to research and promote organized and widespread recruitment and retention activities. People of color are underrepresented in mental health professions, and Texas appears to be lacking in effective racial and culturally diverse recruitment in the mental health professions. This snapshot of the current state of the Texas mental health workforce provides preliminary information to highlight issues that key stakeholders--professionals, employers, higher education, consumers of services, and licensing boards, among others--must address to assure the availability of a qualified mental health workforce.
PY - 2007 T1 - The Mental Health workforce in Texas: A snapshot of the issues TI - The Mental Health workforce in Texas: A snapshot of the issues U1 - Education & Workforce; Grey Literature U4 -This grey literature reference is included in the Academy's Literature Collection in keeping with our mission to gather all sources of information on integration. Grey literature is comprised of materials that are not made available through traditional publishing avenues. Often, the information from unpublished resources can be limited and the risk of bias cannot be determined.
Y1 - 2007 ER -