MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS: ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE
Approximately half of all people in the U.S. will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their lives. The average delay before someone gets treatment after the onset of their symptoms is 11 years. Therefore, many people spend a significant amount of time before a diagnosis. For many, this time can be painful, frustrating and challenging (Mental Health America).
THE BIG ISSUE: THE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD & AFFECTING REAL PEOPLE.
COVID has affected Western Pennsylvania residents from all walks of life and we’re seeing increased levels of anxiety, stress, substance abuse and even suicide. Despite this rise in serious, life-threatening challenges people are grappling with, the human services and the caretaking fields have taken the biggest hit in staffing, at a time people need us most. We are losing caretakers at record numbers: In reviewing merely eight of our member organizations, we have at least 450 vacancies of direct care support positions.
The pandemic has accelerated the shortages and budgetary issues we’ve experienced for years in the human services field, and now creates a domino effect: because we cannot retain workers, people cannot access services in dire times – sometimes, these situations can mean life or death. There’s no more stalling this crisis and the status-quo isn’t cutting it: the system is at risk of caving in on itself. Access to care is not just an issue we face from a workforce vantage point; it’s hurting real people. The need for mental health care is outweighing providers’ ability to staff programs, which can help save lives.
WE’RE LOSING TALENTED WORKERS WHO ARE LEAVING THE FIELD ALTOGETHER.
Even though the need for services is there, we’re seeing staggering turnover rates: in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, direct support professionals separated from their positions within three months of hire, making for an annual turnover rate of more than 130% (RCPA).
Those who enter the mental health field want to make a difference in people’s lives. This is getting dampened by loads of paperwork, burnout and poor wages. Our workers are turning to corporations like Amazon that offer more perks, better pay and flexibility. This is our new competition.
Thank you to all participants that attended Capitol Day in Harrisburg on May 24, 2022. Sharing your stories is so powerful! Have a story to share?
WE NEED REGULATION RELIEF NOW.
One short-term solution is to re-institute regulation relief. During the pandemic, when these measures were instated, the human services field had a huge weight lifted off our shoulders. Without being constantly audited, we were able to operate with less time spent on paperwork and more on serving the community.