America’s Substance Abuse & Mental Health Workforce: Issues & Needs

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has prepared these reports to Congress to provide an overview of the facts and issues affecting the substance abuse and mental health workforce in America. SAMHSA’s reports cover the behavioural health workforce in its entirety because many data sources and programs report by profession or discipline rather than population served (eg: social workers, psychologists, and counsellors), whether providing prevention services or treatment and whether serving persons with substance use disorders, mental health conditions, or both. Data specific to the substance use disorder treatment workforce will be provided wherever available. This book also includes demographic data as well as a discussion of key issues and challenges such as staff turnover, ageing of the workforce, inadequate compensation, worker shortages, licensing and credentialing issues, and recruitment, and retention and distribution of the workforce. The misunderstandings and often inaccurate perceptions of society about mental illness and addiction as these relate to workforce challenges are also discussed.