2018 Indiana Behavioral Health Workforce Brief

Abstract

The mental health workforce is comprised of a cadre of professions that work together synergistically to support mental health, much like pieces forming a puzzle. While each profession has its unique training and scope, all professions are pieced together to treat the whole person. The purpose of this report is to describe the following professions: psychologists,(clinical) addiction counselors (LACs/LCACs), (clinical) social workers (LSWs/LCSWs), marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors. Recognizing that mental health and addiction services may be provided by other health professionals (such as primary care providers), understanding characteristics of each piece of the mental health workforce puzzle is imperative to inform future policy discussions as they are a vital component to health care.