Behavioral Health Crisis Workforce Shortages are Nearly Universal Across U.S. States
Published:
Based on NRI's 2022 survey of State Mental Health Agencies (SMHAs), this report documents the depth of workforce shortages spanning the full behavioral health crisis continuum — from 988 call centers to mobile response teams and residential stabilization programs. Mobile crisis teams are the hardest-hit component, with 36 states reporting gaps, followed closely by crisis stabilization centers (35 states).
- 89%
of state mental health agencies report shortages in at least one crisis component
- #1
Social workers are the most-reported shortage position across all four crisis components
- 52%
of agencies have a specialized peer crisis training program in place
Beyond raw numbers, the report maps which job roles are most affected in each setting and spotlights how select states — including Arizona, Illinois, Washington, and others — are expanding peer specialist training to help bridge the gap.