New program to increase number of mental health professionals

US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a new program that will increase the number of social workers and psychologists to provide care for Americans in rural areas, military personnel, veterans and their families. The program is funded through the Affordable Care Act.

“Mental health services are critical for those dealing with posttraumatic stress and other severe problems,” Sebelius said in a press release. “Increasing the number of quality providers to care for these individuals is a major step forward in addressing these challenges.”

Kathleen Sebelius

The Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training grant program is awarding $9.8 million to 24 accredited graduate programs in the US to help schools recruit social work and psychology students and provide clinical training in mental health care.

The HHS program dovetails with a recent executive order for increased mental health care access. In late August, President Barack Obama directed the US Department of Veterans Affairs to expand suicide prevention efforts and mental health and substance abuse treatment services for veterans and their families. The executive order also requested that the VA, in conjunction with HHS, contract with community health centers, mental health clinics, community substance abuse treatment facilities and additional HHS grantees to reduce VA mental health waiting lists.

The VA has pledged to hire 1,600 new mental health professionals to serve veterans. According to the Obama administration, the VA has expanded its mental health services by hiring more than 3,500 mental health professional since 2009.

A list of the Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training awardees is available on the HHS website.