U. S. Mental Health Workforce and the State of the Mental Health System A Primer and Perspectives

The federal government is involved in mental health care in various ways, including direct provision of services, payment for services, and indirect support for services. This book begins with a working definition of the mental health workforce and a brief discussion of alternative definitions. It then describes three dimensions of the mental health workforce that may influence quality of care, access to care, and costs of care. The book then briefly discusses how these dimensions of the mental health workforce might inform certain policy discussions, and provides statements and testimonies from various individuals on mental health care.