Research

Policymakers have realistic options for addressing the state's most pressing behavioral health workforce challenges. With roughly $30 million in targeted funding and policy initiatives, Oklahoma can significantly strengthen workforce pipelines to meet the state’s growing need for behavioral health professionals.

Among Oklahoma’s non-prescribing behavioral health clinicians, psychologists have the greatest gap between supply and demand, meeting only 37% of the state’s estimated need. Without investments in the pipeline of future psychologists, Oklahoma will continue to struggle meeting residents' needs into the next decade.

In this data snapshot, we highlight national prevalence rates of mental health conditions among U.S. college students as well as state rates of alcohol and substance use among college-age Oklahomans.

We found that health insurance networks offer poor access to the state’s behavioral health care providers — a barrier to care for more than 2 million Oklahomans with these plans.

To better understand the accessibility of Oklahoma's workforce, Healthy Minds conducted a survey of Oklahoma's licensed behavioral health care providers.

Targeted interventions anchored within a comprehensive multi-tiered system of supports framework are crucial to the well-being of youth in our state.

The co-use of methamphetamine and opioids (including fentanyl) has resulted in a significant increase in overdose deaths involving both substances in Oklahoma.

The rollout of 988 in Oklahoma coincides with the launch of a comprehensive crisis response system that includes mobile crisis responders and in-person emergency centers.

As Oklahoma’s population ages, the need for effective behavioral health systems and services for older Oklahomans will continue increasing.

First responders have experienced rising mental distress, with implications for the future of these professions and safety in Oklahoma.