The Black Mental Health Workforce Report

[Reproduced from The Association of Black Psychologists]

Work Setting and Location

While 48% of survey respondents characterized their primary work role as clinical practice, almost a third of respondents reported working a combination of clinical practice, research, and administration.

Two-thirds of survey respondents reported working in an urban city, while only 6% characterized their work location as rural.

Workforce Challenges

Half reported increased workload since the start of the pandemic. A quarter reported that telehealth accounts for 76-100% of their workload.

More than a quarter reported that they have recently considered leaving the mental health field. When asked about reasons they considered leaving, the responses included 1) Burnout, 2) Low Wages, and 3) Increased workload, 4) Microaggressions and racism in the field, and 5) Personal mental health.

Across all respondents, a majority (48%) reported student loans as the main challenge.

Training and Support

Only 30% reported getting some type of financial support (e.g., scholarships) during their training.

Only half of the respondents reported receiving training in the psychology of African/Black people, while 58% reported primarily working with Black/African Americans.

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Dr. Donell Barnett

Donell Barnett is a minister, psychologist, teacher, and healer. Contact him here to partner in the work to heal communities.

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.
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