News Report | March 18, 2018
California Faces Major Shortage Of Behavioral Health Professionals
If behavioral health utilization trends and behavioral workforce trends in California continue at the current rate, by 2028, the state will have 41% fewer psychiatrists than are needed to meet demand. The number of psychologists, therapists, and social workers is projected to be 11% fewer than needed. Between 2016 and 2018, the state's supply of professionals (only psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners) who can prescribe psychiatric medications is projected to decrease by 34%.
In 2016, the state had 83,131 actively licensed behavioral health professionals, and another 31,674 persons had registered with their respective licensing boards . . .