Mental Health Providers

Mental health providers are in short supply in many Southern states. Alabama has only 106 providers per 100,000 people and West Virginia has only 138 – well below the national average of 259.

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 2020

Registered mental health providers

Source: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps and Census Bureau Vintage 2020 PEP Notes: Mental health providers include psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, advanced practice nurses specializing in mental health care as well as those treating alcohol and other drug abuse.

In March 2022, Americans experienced anxiety and depression at rates nearly triple what they were in 2019 but many weren’t able to find the care they needed. The majority of psychologists have seen their waiting lists grow since the pandemic hit.¹ And many Americans are turning to crisis hotlines, which are seeing ballooning demand.² In Alabama and West Virginia, ⅓ of adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in March(Symptoms of Anxiety or Depression). Yet these states have far fewer mental health providers than the national average. This mental health crisis may be contributing to increasing incidents of road rage, vehicular fatalities, domestic and child abuse, drug overdose deaths, and violent crime (Drug Overdose Deaths).^3,4,5,6,7

Some communities are adopting innovative approaches, such as mobile crisis response services funded by American Rescue Plan and Medicaid dollars.3 Still, many Americans need ongoing care and most states have few plans for expanding the supply of mental health providers.⁸

1. “Worsening mental health crisis pressures psychologist workforce”. American Psychological Association. October, 2021. https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/practitioner/covid-19-2021

2. “With the mental health system strained, here’s how some people are coping during the pandemic”. Chatlani. WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio. January, 2022. https://www.wwno.org/news/2022-01-05/with-the-mental-health-system-strained-heres-how-some-are-coping-during-the-pandemic

3. “Many Teens Report Emotional and Physical Abuse by Parents During Lockdown”. Barry. The New York Times. March, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/health/covid-mental-health-teens.html 

4. “Danger in danger: Interpersonal violence during COVID-19 quarantine”. Mazza, Marano, Lai, Janiri, and Sani. PubMed. July, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7190494/

5. “2020 Fatality Data Show Increased Traffic Fatalities During Pandemic”. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. June, 2021. https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2020-fatality-data-show-increased-traffic-fatalities-during-pandemic

6. “Reports of Road Rage Shootings are on the Rise”. Burd-Sharps, Bistline. Everytown. April, 2022. https://everytownresearch.org/reports-of-road-rage-shootings-are-on-the-rise/

7. “Preventing gun violence takes more than police”. Henderson, Brown. Brookings Institute. March, 2022. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/how-we-rise/2022/03/31/preventing-gun-violence-takes-more-than-police/ 

8. “Building a sustainable behavioral health crisis continuum”. Frank, WAchino. Brookings. January, 2022. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/usc-brookings-schaeffer-on-health-policy/2022/01/06/building-a-sustainable-behavioral-health-crisis-continuum/