A new study has found that Ohio is facing a severe shortage of behavioral health workers — the professionals who provide mental health and addiction care.
A survey by the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Services found that 98% of behavioral health agencies were experiencing difficulty recruiting staff, while 88% reported having difficulty retaining staff once they were hired.
To make matters worse, that shortfall comes as the opioid crisis and COVID-19 pandemic increase demand for the vital services behavioral health workers provide.
Joining Cincinnati Edition to discuss the shortfall and what can be done to address it are CEO Teresa Lampl; NewPath CEO Eric Cummins; and NewPath Chief Impact Officer Tricia Mullins.
Listen to Cincinnati Edition live at noon M-F. Audio for this segment will be uploaded after 4 p.m. ET.
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