Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today introduced legislation aimed at ramping up the number of mental health professionals who specialize in treating children and adolescents. 

Two reports over the past decade indicate there is a severe shortage of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers in general, but the problem is particularly acute for children.  Yet, according to the Bureau of Health Professions, the demand for the services of child and adolescent psychiatrists is projected to increase by 100 percent by 2020, yet the number of professionals is expected to increase by just 30 percent. 

In New Mexico, estimates suggest that 56,000 children and adolescents have an emotional or behavioral disorder.  But as of this year, there are a total of 55 child and adolescent psychiatrists in the entire state. 

“Research shows that children with untreated emotional and behavioral disorders are at higher risk for school failure and dropping out of school, violence, drug abuse, suicide, and criminal activity.  In our state, the suicide rate is twice the national average, the fourth highest in the nation, and the third leading cause of death.  We must take action now to tackle this serious issue,” Bingaman said. 

Bingaman’s Child Healthcare Crisis Relief Act seeks to attract new child mental health professionals by both expanding training programs and helping defray the cost of training.  The legislation does the following:

Loan repayment and scholarships for child mental health and school-based service professionals to help pay back educational loans.  Authorizes appropriations of $10 million for loan repayment and $5 million for scholarships per year for fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

Grants to graduate schools to provide for internships and field placements in child mental health services. Authorizes appropriations of $10 million per year for fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

Grants to help with the preservice and inservice training of paraprofessionals who work in children’s mental health clinical settings.  Authorizes appropriations of $5 million per year for fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

Grants to graduate schools to help develop and expand child and adolescent mental health programs. Authorizes appropriations of $15 million per year for fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

The bill also requires the secretary of Health and Human Services to prepare a report on the distribution and need for child mental health and school-based professionals, including disparities in the availability of services, on a State-by-State basis.  This report will help Congress more clearly ascertain the mental health workforce needs that are facing our nation.

“This legislation is just the kind of aggressive action we need to ensure young Americans have access to the range of health care services they need,” Bingaman said.