Why We Need A Black MH Workforce Report

Public and private organizations have recognized the need to grow the mental health workforce. Those efforts include new funding, strategic planning, and supporting a network of research centers to help understand mental health demands and the supply of mental health professionals.

Very little of the existing work focuses on Black Mental Health or Black Mental Health Professionals.

The principle of Self-Determination (Kujichagulia) demands that we define for ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

The Black Mental Health Survey Report

The First Multidisciplinary and Multigenerational Report on the Black Mental Health Workforce

While most people only have to deal with traditional mental health and wellness concerns, Black Americans also have to carry the stress of Historical, Contemporary, and systemic racism!

Public and private organizations have recognized the need to grow the mental health workforce. Those efforts include new funding, strategic planning, and supporting a network of research centers to help understand mental health demands and the supply of mental health professionals.

Very little of the existing work focuses on Black Mental Health or Black Mental Health Professionals.

The principle of Self-Determination (Kujichagulia) demands that we define for ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

Official Statements

Useful Tools, Websites and Resources

9The convergence of a mental health crisis, a mental health workforce crisis, a syndemic of COVID-19, economic concerns, and institutional racism, we need to center Black voices to support Black communities.
9Nationally, 4% of psychologists (American Psychological Association, 2018) , 2% of psychiatrists (American Psychiatric Association, 2021), 22% of social workers (Institute for Health Workforce Equity, 2020), 7% of marriage and family counselors, and 11% of professional counselors are reported to be Black.
9According to the GAO, there were 1.2 Million Behavioral Health Providers in the U.S. in 2020.

Survey Respondent

“There is a lack of representation of clinicians of color, particularly Black male clinicians. The workforce lacks diversity, and it is difficult to find clinicians of color in private practice who can serve the demands of clients who need services. There are many imbalances in the workforce that are not being addressed…the space is underserved and under-supported”.