This is why it’s so hard to find mental health counseling right now

This is why it’s so hard to find mental health counseling right now

Posted on March 6, 2022

It has been difficult to find mental health counseling in much of the U.S. for years, long before the pandemic. It is even more difficult to find specialized care for children or those with lower income. At Boston Medical Center, a safety net hospital, staff recently began contacting parents on the 170-person wait list from April 2021 — a 10-month to receive services, said Dr. Christine Crawford, NAMI Associate Medical Director and child psychiatrist at the center. Crawford said the return to school has allowed teachers and others to assess the needs of children who have been seen only by their parents in recent months. The result has been a large surge in referrals to a mental health workforce that has not expanded. “Other adults and teachers are able to lay eyes on these kids,” she said, and they are “bringing up concerns about behavioral issues and emotional issues.” According to AACAP, there are just 8,300 practicing child psychiatrists in the U.S. for the more than 15 million young people in need of help. Pediatricians are doing initial assessments, Crawford said, with only the most severe cases reaching her.