Mental health provider shortages have Mountain West officials searching for solutions
A regional collaboration of public media stations that serve the Rocky Mountain States of Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Mental health provider shortages have Mountain West officials searching for solutions
Patrick O’Neal, a therapist and owner of a counseling service in Idaho Falls, Idaho, said many mental health providers in his area are booked months in advance.
“We're not able to treat the clients that need treatment,” O’Neal said. “At the same time, they're getting worse while they're waiting for that treatment to arrive.”
“So people are coming to this part of Idaho, and they also want mental health services,” he said. “But at the same time, if I am not licensed in that state, or if they reside in a different state, I can't treat them.”
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, KUNC in Colorado, KUNM in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.