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Expanding the Mental Health Workforce in California

JUL. 17, 2024 

By Brian Dick

According to a 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation/CHCF California Health Policy Survey, 49% of California residents say that ensuring that people with mental health problems can access treatment is "extremely important," while 52% say that their community does not have enough mental health providers. 


One method of addressing the growing need for mental health professionals in the state is to expand training programs. For example, in 2021 the University of California developed a multicampus UC PMHNP certificate program. While Nurse Practitioners (NP) can create treatment plans and prescribe medication, board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP) can serve psychiatric patients, including providing psychotherapy and other specialized treatment. 

Over 150 mental health professionals will have gone through the program once the 2024 cohort completes the certificate. Students are required to participate in at least 500 hours of clinical work in local communities. 

“Expanding the behavioral health workforce through the UC PMHNP program means California is better equipped to respond to the growing mental health crisis that’s happening across the state, especially in rural communities,” says Deena Shin McRae, M.D., UC Health associate vice president for academic health sciences and clinical professor of psychiatry at UC Irvine School of Medicine. 

Read more about the UC PMHNP certificate program at UCnet.

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