indiana's mental health workforce
The Challenge
Mental healthcare in Indiana is in crisis. The situation is dire, with all 92 counties facing federally designated mental health workforce shortages. The impact on Hoosier youth is particularly alarming – suicide has become the leading cause of death among adolescents ages 10-14, and over half of Indiana teens with depression receive no treatment. This crisis takes a staggering economic toll as well, with the annual societal cost of untreated mental illness in Indiana estimated at $4.2 billion.
Click below to download the full Playbook report and check out the background information, or continue scrolling to read the solutions.
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Annual societal cost of untreated mental health conditions in Indiana
%
More than half of Hoosier adolescents with depression do not receive treatment
Hoosiers who have untreated mental health conditions
bowen center recommendations
The Solutions
Secure the Pipeline
Enhance Indiana’s mental health workforce pipeline through strategic expansion of educational programs, addressing training deserts, and implementing incentives to attract and retain talent in the field.
Align Education, Policy, and Practice
Ensure better alignment between educational curricula, regulatory policies, and clinical practice needs to improve workforce readiness and ease the transition from education to professional practice
Strengthen Clinical Training
Expand clinical training opportunities for students and recent graduates, improve the quality and availability of clinical supervision, and provide incentives for professionals engaged in clinical education.
School-Based Behavioral Health
Develop a comprehensive understanding of the school-based behavioral health workforce to inform policy decisions and improve mental health services for Indiana’s youth in educational settings.
Additional Considerations
Final thoughts on ways to improve Indiana’s mental health workforce
addressing the hoosier mental health crisis
The Road to the Playbook
The Playbook for Enhancing Indiana’s Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce was developed in response to the critical shortage of mental health professionals across all 92 counties in Indiana. This shortage has led to significant challenges in providing adequate mental health care, particularly for youth, with suicide being the leading cause of death among adolescents. The project, funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc., aimed to identify opportunities to strengthen Indiana’s pipeline from postsecondary education to clinical practice for selected mental and behavioral health professionals. The project team conducted extensive research on the regulatory environment, education landscape, and workforce perspectives to develop actionable recommendations.
Read more about the story behind the project here:
a collaborative effort
The Power of Partnership
The development of the Playbook involved a wide range of stakeholders and partners. These included academic leaders from various Indiana institutions, employers affiliated with the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers and the Indiana Hospital Association, licensed mental health professionals, and representatives from state agencies such as the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. Additionally, input was gathered from trade associations, community organizations, and other experts in the field. This collaborative approach ensured that the recommendations in the Playbook reflect a broad range of perspectives and have widespread support within the mental health community in Indiana.
Check out the full list of advisors and stakeholders whose perspectives contributed to this report by clicking below.
Stay Up to Date
Check out the latest news about the Playbook here and on our social media.
You can also read all of our news on our blog here.
Bowen in the News: All Indiana counties have a mental health workforce shortage. A new report provides solutions
The Bowen Center's Playbook for tackling Indiana's mental health workforce crisis is featured in a new article from WFYI Indianapolis. The opening paragraph of the story sums up the crisis in Indiana well: Over 1 million adults in Indiana have a mental health...
Mental Health Workforce: ICCMHC commits to support the Playbook
We are thrilled to announce that earlier this summer the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers (ICCMHC) officially committed to supporting Bowen's Playbook for Enhancing Indiana's Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce. This endorsement marks a...
Inside Indiana Business: IU unveils Playbook to address mental health workforce shortage
Bowen's Playbook to tackle the crisis in Indiana's mental health is gaining traction and getting attention around Indiana. Read this latest in this article from Inside Indiana Business: The Indiana University School of Medicine’s Bowen Center for Health Workforce...
Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette: New report details shortage of mental health professionals in Indiana
Bowen's Playbook for Enhancing Indiana's Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce is getting attention in the press across Indiana. Check out this article from the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette: Indiana has a shortage of mental health professionals, a situation a provider...
Christian Theological Seminary Highlighted in Mental Health Workforce Playbook
We're pleased to see Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) sharing their involvement in the Playbook for Enhancing Indiana's Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce. CTS's unique model of integrating education, clinical experience, and community outreach was recognized...
Bowen Director Dr. Hannah Maxey presents the Playbook to the Indiana Commission to Combat Substance Use Disorder
Bowen Center Director Dr. Hannah Maxey presented August 1 the Playbook for Enhancing Indiana's Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce to the Indiana Commission to Combat Substance Use Disorder. Indiana faces an enormous challenge of recruiting and retaining a...
jump to the first solution
Secure the Pipeline