New NRI State Profiles Report: State Behavioral Health Workforce Shortages and Initiatives, 2023-2024

State Mental Health Agencies (SMHAs) are responsible for organizing and overseeing mental health systems that provide a comprehensive array of mental health services and supports to over 8 million individuals at a cost of over $43 billion each year. Providing quality service requires states and their funded behavioral health providers to recruit, train, and support a multidisciplinary workforce capable of providing services 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

This report highlights workforce shortages in state hospitals, community mental health settings, and behavioral health crisis providers—with details about the types of staff with the greatest shortages, as well as state initiatives to grow and retain their behavioral health workforce.

Profiles reports are available at: www.nri-inc.org/profiles. State Mental Health Agency staff have access to detailed accompanying materials through the NRI’s State Profiles restricted access website. Please contact NRI at profiles@nri-inc.org with any questions or comments.