More mental health providers needed

Susie Adams, PhD, FAANP, FAAN, who directed the PMHNP program for 17 years, until 2014, said there’s an increasing need for mental health services, especially for geriatric patients and those suffering from addiction, most often to opioids.

She believes the reason for the increase is threefold.

  • More public awareness of mental health problems and treatment options
  • The 2008 Mental Health and Addiction Parity Act which requires equal health insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorders
  • Media coverage of celebrities and professional athletes talking openly about their mental health and substance use disorders

“Though the stigma regarding mental health and substance abuse disorders remains the No. 1 barrier to people seeking treatment, we’ve made some headway,” Adams said.

But along with the increasing need for services, a shortage of mental health nurse practitioners is also sure to follow, she said, referring to a 2016 study in the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.

“As the number of individuals in need of mental health care grows, the number of individuals without mental health care will also increase…the resulting strain on mental health care resources will be exacerbated by the lack of providers who are educated and licensed to provide the full scope of psychiatric services including prescribing,” the study said.

“Community partnerships with VUSN and agencies where our students obtain clinical experience are critical to the success of our PMHNP program and the level of expertise and clinical judgments that our students are able to achieve through their educational experience,” Adams said.

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