Analysis of Mental Health Workforce: Implications for Social Work Practice and Profession

ABSTRACT

This analysis was undertaken to better understand what factors may contribute to the relative strength or weakness of the clinical social work professional workforce. We explored the relationship between social work workforce numbers and social work licensure laws/policies. We also examined relationships between population factors and mental health workforce, including examining ratios of other mental health professions nationwide. Additionally, we explored mental health workforce strengths as it relates to state mental health needs and utilization of mental health services. Our findings were consistent with past research with respect to proportion of overall mental health workforce across mental health professionals. We did not find a direct relationship between licensure laws/policies and state social work workforce numbers. However, we found some relationships between the ratio of social workers to the population and state health rank, as well as the overall mental health workforce availability in a state. In addition, a relationship was found between ratio of social workers to the population and adults with mental illness not receiving care. Given the results, the authors posit that these findings could be used to promote the social work discipline in targeted ways, such as promotion of the discipline in states where mental health needs are underserved or in states with lower health rankings. Factors to consider at the macro and micro levels, as well as interprofessional issues in training and work, are discussed. We believe the findings from this analysis can be used to inform policy and promote the discipline of social work.

KEYWORDS:

• Licensure
• scope of practice
• laws
• mobility

Acknowledgments

We would also like to thank the other professionals who participated in reviewing this manuscript: Candis Hardin, MSW; Elyse Freilich, Ph.D.; Savannah Hipes, MSW; Katherine Morgan, Pharm.D.; Michelle Springfield, PsyD.

Data Availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and/or its supplementary materials. Data references regarding laws per state are available upon request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The contents of this article do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. This work was supported in part by the Office of Academic Affiliation through educational grants which have funded the Rural and Underserved Interprofessional Postgraduate Fellowship. Additionally, this study is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, located in Biloxi, Mississippi, and the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center located in Columbia, South Carolina.