As behavioral health needs grow nationwide, access to psychiatric care has not kept pace. Projections indicate that by 2037, over half of the demand for adult psychiatrists will remain unmet, creating sustained challenges for healthcare organizations and the communities they serve.
To access the data, trends, and strategies shaping the future of psychiatric care, complete the short form below
To access the data, trends, and strategies shaping the future of psychiatric care, complete the short form below
Psychiatry by the Numbers: Workforce & Job Growth Projections
There are over 51,000 psychiatrists in the United States. Over 11,000 psychiatrists specialize in child and adolescent psychiatry, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).
Psychiatry Hiring Trends: Challenges for Healthcare Organizations
Rising vacancies and extended hiring timelines are intensifying the need for healthcare organizations to develop long-term strategies for behavioral health staffing stability.
Current hiring trends highlight growing challenges in recruiting psychiatrists, limiting many organizations’ ability to expand services and meet rising behavioral health needs.
Key Drivers: Factors Contributing to the Psychiatrist Shortage
Heightened Demand: Pressure on Capacity & Services
Mental health needs are growing faster than available psychiatric resources. As a result, patients face delayed access to care, while psychiatrists manage increasing workloads and system-wide capacity strain.
Heightened psychiatric demand is placing additional pressure on the broader healthcare system, where limited access to psychiatric services increases strain across inpatient units and emergency departments.
Geographical Disparities: Regional Gaps in Psychiatric Care
Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations identify U.S. regions and populations where the supply of mental health providers falls below federal benchmarks for adequate access to care.
While Mental Health HPSAs illustrate the extent of mental health shortages overall, the demand for services and the availability of psychiatrists, both adult and child, vary by region.
Actionable Strategies: Navigating the Psychiatrist Shortage
Leverage Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs): Enhancing Workforce Ability
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) can be leveraged in place of psychiatrists or used strategically to create a collaborative care team model, helping to meet rising demands and improve access to care.
With rising mental health needs and persistent access gaps in psychiatric care, PMHNPs can help organizations strengthen their workforce while improving patient access.
Utilize Locum Tenens Psychiatrists: Ensuring Access to Psychiatric Care
Locum tenens psychiatrists offer an immediate way to maintain access to psychiatric care amid ongoing shortages and rising patient demand.
By integrating locum tenens psychiatrists into workforce planning, healthcare organizations can protect patient access, reduce pressure on core teams, and maintain high standards of psychiatric care even amid shortages.
For a comprehensive look into the psychiatrist shortage, the contributing factors, and ways to navigate it, we invite you to download the complete white paper by filling out the form above.
