Advocacy Alert: Strengthen the Pediatric Mental Health Workforce

July 25, 2024

via Partnership to End Addiction

The growing youth mental health crisis is colliding with a shortage of behavioral health professionals, particularly pediatric providers.

Approximately six million adolescents had substance use disorder and/or a major depressive episode in 2022. The majority of adolescents who needed substance use treatment did not receive it (60 percent), and nearly half of adolescents with a major depressive episode did not receive treatment. There are many factors limiting access to care for young people, but one is the lack of available and accessible providers trained to treat youth mental health and substance use disorders.

Pediatric providers are particularly critical because many mental health symptoms and substance use often start in adolescence, and untreated mental illness in youth and early initiation of substance use can lead to worsening addiction and mental health problems. Bolstering the pediatric behavioral health workforce is critical for addressing the existing youth mental health crisis and for preventing future mental health and addiction crises.

Send a letter to your members of Congress urging them to support the Strengthening Our Pediatric Mental Health Workforce Act.

Read the full article and send a letter here.

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