The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services emphasized the role of community health workers and peer support specialists to expand behavioral health teams in care deserts in a February advisory from the agency.
More than one-third of Americans live in areas with behavioral health workforce shortages, with one-third of mental health visits conducted by primary care providers and 22% of Americans living in areas lacking sufficient primary care physicians.
Community health workers serve as front-line public health workers who connect individuals to health and social services, provide education, conduct screenings and support care coordination, according to the advisory. They can also deliver brief interventions, help patients follow treatment plans and address barriers such as housing instability, food insecurity and transportation challenges.
Peer support specialists, who have lived experience with behavioral health conditions, help patients engage in recovery by offering emotional support, promoting self-advocacy and connecting individuals to resources. The advisory said these roles can improve engagement, satisfaction and recovery outcomes while reducing stigma and the likelihood of recurrence.
The advisory also outlined recruitment and retention strategies, including using Health Resources and Service Administration workforce shortage data to target funding, building partnerships with academic institutions and behavioral health organizations, and expanding training programs such as the behavioral health workforce education and training program. It also recommended telehealth to support staff and improve retention, financial incentives such as loan repayment programs, and sustainable funding mechanisms including Medicaid and grants.
Additional approaches to expand access include telehealth, the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, mobile behavioral health vans, nutrition education, integrated care models and creating certified community behavioral health clinics.
The advisory noted disparities in rural areas, where more than 60% of residents live in designated behavioral health shortages areas, and linked workforce shortages to broader public health challenges. It also cited 49,246 U.S. deaths by suicide in 2023 and emphasized the need for early intervention and expanded access to services.
Read the full advisory here.
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