New York state lawmakers and advocates are urgently addressing the state’s critical shortage of mental health personnel. Glenn Liebman, CEO of the New York State Mental Health Association, emphasized the need for significant action as the state approaches budget negotiations. Advocates are calling for a 3.2% cost-of-living increase for mental health professionals, in line with the consumer price index, to alleviate a workforce crisis they are calling a “tsunami.”
State Sen. Samra Brooke, chair of the Mental Health Committee, emphasized the importance of removing barriers that impact social workers, especially Black and Latinx graduates. Brooke is co-sponsoring the Social Work Workforce Act, which would eliminate state licensing exam requirements in an effort to diversify and expand the workforce. Additionally, proposals to reduce student loan debt and improve access to mental health services through insurance are being considered as solutions to attract more professionals to the field.
The push for more mental health professionals coincides with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s allocation of $20 million in funding to expand school-based mental health clinics. While this investment represents an important step forward, the effectiveness of these efforts will depend on addressing workforce shortages. Without sufficient qualified professionals, the potential impact of these programs on issues such as self-harm awareness may be limited, and the This highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy.
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