The Mental Health Gap: Too Few Graduates for Too Many Patients?
Recent data from Mental Health America shows that 21 percent of adults and 16 percent of youth in the US are suffering from mental health issues, yet there is a shortage of professionals to help. With an average of 350 patients per provider, the demand for mental health services is high. The question remains, will there be enough graduates to meet this demand? Our analysis of enrollment, completions, and job postings data for master’s programs in mental health counseling reveals a pressing need for higher education institutions to launch or grow programs in this field.