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Needs Assessment for Behavioral Health Workforce: a State-Level Analysis

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Abstract

This study describes trends in the supply and the need for behavioral health professionals in Nebraska. A state-level health workforce database was used to estimate the behavioral health workforce supply and need. Compared with national estimates, Nebraska has a lower proportion of all categories of behavioral health professionals. The majority of Nebraska counties have unusually high needs for mental health professionals, with rural areas experiencing a decline in the supply of psychiatrists over the last decade. Availability of robust state-level health workforce data can assist in crafting effective policy for successful systems change, particularly for behavioral health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984350 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4350, USA

    Preethy Nayar MD, MPhil, PhD, Bettye Apenteng PhD, Anh T. Nguyen MSPH, PhD, Kelly Shaw-Sutherland MPA, Diptee Ojha BDS, MBA, PhD & Marlene Deras BS

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  1. Preethy Nayar MD, MPhil, PhD
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  2. Bettye Apenteng PhD
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  3. Anh T. Nguyen MSPH, PhD
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  4. Kelly Shaw-Sutherland MPA
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  5. Diptee Ojha BDS, MBA, PhD
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  6. Marlene Deras BS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Preethy Nayar MD, MPhil, PhD.

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Nayar, P., Apenteng, B., Nguyen, A.T. et al. Needs Assessment for Behavioral Health Workforce: a State-Level Analysis. J Behav Health Serv Res 44, 465–473 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-016-9500-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-016-9500-4

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