The behavioral health workforce pipeline: where it stands and where it’s headed

This article was originally published at The behavioral health workforce pipeline: where it stands and where it's headed

The behavioral health workforce shortage is deepening. Federally designated mental health professional shortage areas rose from 6,418 to 6,807 as of December 31, and the population living in them grew from roughly 122 million to 137 million people.

Brie Reimann, vice president for practice improvement and consulting at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, identified recruitment, retention, and burnout as the field’s central workforce challenges — and pointed to philanthropy as a lever that can do more than sustain the status quo. Philanthropy, she said, can make catalytic investments that strengthen care now.

Reimann cited three examples of regional philanthropy with national implications: Ballmer Group’s investment in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, Kaiser Permanente’s Mental Health Career Accelerator, and Peg’s Foundation’s support for technology in behavioral health settings. The Kaiser Permanente accelerator, developed with the National Council, addresses the licensure bottleneck by providing direct financial support, training and technical assistance, mentorship, and milestone-based supports to clinicians on the path to licensure.

Looking ahead, Reimann said the next generation of clinicians will need broader competencies: the ability to navigate policy change, work in high-volume settings, and use data coordination and technology alongside traditional clinical skills.

This article was originally published at The behavioral health workforce pipeline: where it stands and where it's headed