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Published Online: 15 April 2024

Behavioral Health Workforce Development in Washington State: Addition of a Behavioral Health Support Specialist

William P. O’Connell, Ed.D. [email protected], Brenna N. Renn, Ph.D., Patricia A. Areán, Ph.D., Patrick J. Raue, Ph.D., and Anna Ratzliff, M.D., Ph.D.Authors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric Services
Volume 75, Number 10
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20230312
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Abstract

The mental and behavioral health workforce shortage has hindered access to care in the United States, resulting in long waitlists for persons who need behavioral health care. Global models for task sharing, combined with U.S.-led studies of nonspecialists delivering interventions for depression and anxiety, support the development of this workforce in a stepped care system. This Open Forum highlights an innovative effort in Washington State to initiate a bachelor’s-level behavioral health support specialist curriculum leading to credentialing to expand the mental health workforce and improve access to care for people with depression and anxiety.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric Services
Go to Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric Services
Volume 75 • Number 10 • October 01, 2024
Pages: 1042 - 1044
PubMed: 38616648

History

Received: 29 June 2023
Revision received: 13 December 2023
Revision received: 5 February 2024
Accepted: 20 February 2024
Published online: 15 April 2024
Published in print: October 01, 2024

Keywords

  1. Mental health
  2. Workforce development
  3. Integrated behavioral health
  4. Stepped care
  5. Brief psychotherapy

Authors

Details

William P. O’Connell, Ed.D. [email protected]
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle (O’Connell, Raue, Ratzliff); Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas (Renn); Division of Services and Interventions Research, NIMH, Bethesda (Areán).
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Brenna N. Renn, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle (O’Connell, Raue, Ratzliff); Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas (Renn); Division of Services and Interventions Research, NIMH, Bethesda (Areán).
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Patricia A. Areán, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle (O’Connell, Raue, Ratzliff); Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas (Renn); Division of Services and Interventions Research, NIMH, Bethesda (Areán).
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Patrick J. Raue, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle (O’Connell, Raue, Ratzliff); Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas (Renn); Division of Services and Interventions Research, NIMH, Bethesda (Areán).
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Anna Ratzliff, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle (O’Connell, Raue, Ratzliff); Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas (Renn); Division of Services and Interventions Research, NIMH, Bethesda (Areán).
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Notes

Send correspondence to Dr. O’Connell ([email protected]).

Competing Interests

Dr. Raue reports serving on the clinical advisory board of AbleTo. The other authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Funding Information

The University of Washington Behavioral Health Support Specialist Clinical Training Program received philanthropic support through a gift from Ballmer Group.

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