Mental Health Services in Crisis

As a clinician who provides direct client care I can attest to the fact that our mental health delivery system is in crisis. Although I am an outpatient therapist, I am treating more and more clients who require a higher level of care than an hour a week outpatient treatment can reasonably accommodate. The acuity of the symptoms I treat with PTSD, depression and anxiety have drastically increased in the past two years. I am encountering more and more cases of treatment resistant depression. It is quite alarming that we have such a dearth of psychiatric services for referral. I know of situations that are really very sad wherein clients call for psychiatric services and have to wait for weeks for a call back (which is assuming the call is even returned), or when they do reach a psychiatric or psychological service, and are totally denied access by being told that the office is not accepting new patients or clients. This is a travesty with all too often, tragic results.

In an attempt to try to ameliorate this situation I am asking that the National Association of Social Work become more engaged in its advocacy for more support for social workers trying to obtain appropriate treatment for their clients. We as social workers are excellent at facilitating connections and identifying community resources , but what are we supposed to do when we are left with few referral sources, many of whom ignore us? I will not be deterred. A major responsibility of a social worker is to advocate for his or her clients. I intend to continue to fight this uphill battle.