profession
Texas sees shortage of mental health professionals
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 25, 2011
An aging work force coupled with Texas' growing and increasingly diverse population are contributing to a shortage of mental health professionals in the state, said an April 11 policy brief from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health and Methodist Healthcare Ministries.
In fiscal 2010, about 488,520 Texas adults had serious, persistent mental illness, and 54,724 children had a severe emotional disturbance. But only 34% of those adults and 29% of children received community mental health care. In 2009, 171 of the state's 254 counties lacked a psychiatrist, and 102 counties lacked a psychologist, the paper said (link).
"As Texans, we can and must address this growing crisis," said Octavio N. Martinez Jr., MD, MPH, executive director of the Hogg Foundation, which helps fund mental health services and research statewide. Limited training opportunities and poor pay also contribute to the problem.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/04/25/prbf0425.htm.
