Massachusetts is at a critical crossroads, as growth in the behavioral health workforce and the talent pipeline is not keeping pace with the higher demand for services. Healthcare providers struggle to recruit and retain professionals in high-need settings, such as community-based behavioral health settings, that tend to face high burnout and often pay less than other healthcare settings. The pandemic worsened workforce challenges due to the increasing number of individuals needing behavioral healthcare services. In 2023, 26 percent of Massachusetts adults reported symptoms of Anxiety or Depressive Disorder, more than double the rate in 2019 (11 percent). The supply of behavioral health professionals is not meeting the increasing demand for services that have grown since the pandemic.
The Behavioral Health Workforce Challenge
Massachusetts is at a critical crossroads, as growth in the behavioral health workforce and the talent pipeline is not keeping pace with the higher demand for services. Healthcare providers struggle to recruit and retain professionals in high-need settings, such as community-based behavioral health settings, that tend to face high burnout and often pay less than other healthcare settings. The pandemic worsened workforce challenges due to the increasing number of individuals needing behavioral healthcare services. In 2023, 26 percent of Massachusetts adults reported symptoms of Anxiety or Depressive Disorder, more than double the rate in 2019 (11 percent). The supply of behavioral health professionals is not meeting the increasing demand for services that have grown since the pandemic.
