The Mental Health Provider Shortage Is Costing You

Written by Jeff Spight, CEO of MIND 24-7

When it comes to the well-being of your employees, mental health is just as important a consideration as physical health. And chances are, you’re talking to your workforce about Mental Health Awareness Month right now. (If you haven’t been, it’s a great time to start the conversation!)

Unfortunately, many of your employees might not get the help they need given the severe shortage of mental health care providers in Arizona. This shortage affects individuals needing care as well as business owners.

Jeff Spight, CEO of MIND 24-7, which operates four walk-in mental health clinics in the Valley, shares his thoughts on the state of mental health in the U.S., the provider shortage and what options people have for getting the care they need.

Q. Has the mental health crisis slowed post-pandemic?

A. Not at all. In fact, the crisis has deepened across all age groups. In a survey by the American Psychological Association, 79% of psychologists reported seeing an increase in anxiety disorders among patients, 66% saw an increase in depression, and nearly half (47%) reported an increase in substance use disorder in 2022.

What’s more: Nearly two-thirds (63.5%) of adults in Arizona who reported having mental health problems did not receive care. That’s quite a bit higher than the national average of 54.7%. Our state ranks 49th (out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C.) for access to mental health care services.

That ranking can be tied to Arizona’s mental health provider shortage. Across the U.S., the provider ratio is 350:1, meaning there is one mental health provider per every 350 people. Arizona’s mental health provider ratio is 660:1.

Q. How does mental illness affect productivity?

A. Mental health problems have a significant impact on work and productivity. According to a Gallup Poll in which nearly one-fifth of U.S. workers described their mental health as “poor” or “fair,” such workers reported four times more absences compared with workers who described their mental health as “good” or better. That equates to an average of 12 unplanned absences per year and $47.6 billion in lost productivity.

Q. What is MIND 24-7 doing to address the mental health care crisis in Arizona?

A. MIND 24-7 is fundamentally changing the way people access mental health care in Arizona, filling a critical gap between long waits to get an appointment and going to the emergency department for mental health care.

Alternatively, MIND 24-7 is open 24 hours a day for walk-in care—no appointment necessary. We treat every kind of mental health problem, including anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder and more. Patients see a mental health professional within 20 minutes of arrival, and most will be on their way again in about an hour and a half. We accept health insurance, including Medicare and AHCCCS. We also never turn anyone away due to lack of coverage or inability to pay.

Since opening, we’ve served more than 27,000 individuals in the Valley, and we look forward to continuing to support those who need us.