Expanding and empowering Oklahoma’s behavioral health workforce.
Rising demand for mental health services has outpaced the growth of Oklahoma’s behavioral health workforce.
But Oklahoma has opportunities to expand the capacity of the workforce it does have, allowing more people to access and receive the treatment they need.
Healthy Minds’ workforce research focuses on extending behavioral health providers’ reach through technology and growing the number of critically needed mental health professionals.
psychiatrists in Oklahoma for every 100,000 people, well below the ratio of 27.7 psychiatrists per 100,000 people needed to serve communities adequately.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration, Healthy Minds research
Oklahoma has over 2.5 times more licensed professional counselors per capita than the national average, but without accurate data, does not know how many actually see patients.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration, Healthy Minds research
of Oklahomans, at most, are within a 30-minute drive of an in-network psychiatrist.
Source: Healthy Minds research
Essential research
Maximizing the impact of Oklahoma's mental health workforce
Oklahoma has significant shortages of licensed behavioral health providers, such as psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists. Allied mental health professionals — such as peer recovery support specialists, behavioral health case managers, and others — can play an important role in expanding the reach of licensed providers and meeting the state’s rapidly growing behavioral health needs.
When allied mental health professionals' responsibilities reflect what they are uniquely trained to do, they play a role in improving patients’ outcomes and make it possible for licensed clinicians to work more effectively too.
Behavioral health strategies for Oklahoma’s application for critical Rural Health Transformation Fund dollars
Oklahoma has an opportunity to make critical, lasting investments in health care access and infrastructure in rural parts of the state.
With a successful application, Oklahoma could receive at least $500 million through the new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund. The fund is the product of H.R. 1, the federal budget reconciliation package passed in July that makes sweeping changes to how states administer their Medicaid programs.
The state of Oklahoma's behavioral health workforce
To grow the state’s behavioral health workforce, Oklahoma must attract prospective students to behavioral health degree programs that are high-quality, accessible, and affordable. Perhaps even more critical is ensuring the availability of “capstone” experiences — such as internships and residencies — that prepare individuals to become licensed professionals in Oklahoma.
To grow the state’s behavioral health workforce, Oklahoma must attract prospective students to behavioral health degree programs that are high-quality, accessible, and affordable. Perhaps even more critical is ensuring the availability of “capstone” experiences — such as internships and residencies — that prepare individuals to become licensed professionals in Oklahoma.
Surveying Oklahoma’s behavioral health workforce
To better understand how accessible behavioral health providers are to Oklahomans across the state, Healthy Minds Policy Initiative conducted a survey of 622 of Oklahoma’s licensed behavioral health care providers.
