Watch the recap of the January 23, 2020 installment of the National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging's (NCMHA) Webinar Series: Solutions to Behavioral Health Workforce Shortages and Lack of Funding. Following the National Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day (OAMHD) events, NCMHA developed a plan to collaborate with interested government agencies, private sector groups, and experts to maintain the momentum and recommendations generated from OAMHD.

The 2012 Institute of Medicine Report, The Mental Health and Substance Use Workforce for Older Adults: In Whose Hands, noted that the national mental and behavioral health care workforce is ill-equipped—in numbers, knowledge, and skills—to care for a rapidly aging, diverse population.

The Health Resources and Services Administration has projected the supply of workers in select behavioral health professions to be approximately 250,000 workers short of the projected demand in 2025. The problem is most acute in rural areas.

This January 23 webinar looks at new and increased efforts to improve recruitment for and training capacity in many mental health disciplines. It also explores the use of tele-behavioral health programs and policy initiatives such as funding the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program.