EDITORIAL: Shortage of mental health providers hurts us all
Star-NewsOct 15, 2017
With the
"Every time I say, 'I'm sorry, I can't take a new patient,' I feel guilty," said Dr.
He recounted to reporter
Nationwide, the number of psychiatrists fell 10 percent from 2003 to 2013, according to the
One challenge is getting medical students to choose psychiatry, a field that pays less than other medical specialties -- it's near the bottom -- while often taking an emotional toll on its practitioners.
Providers such as
Allowing mental health problems to go untreated is an individual tragedy, but it's also a risk for the larger population.
Letting jails and emergency rooms become the default treatment centers is a costly and unsatisfactory approach. Letting folks with addictions and unresolved issues roam the streets without help or prescribed medication puts us all at risk. It's not only compassionate to help the mentally ill, it's safer for everybody.
Some very serious mental health problems can be successfully managed with medications, but that requires ongoing medical oversight.
With its new doctoral program in clinical psychology, UNCW should play an active role in meeting this critical need. There are other important resources at UNCW -- the
Next time you encounter someone working in the mental health field, thank them. It's difficult, important work -- and too often misunderstood and thankless.
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