A shortage of mental health professionals in south-central Indiana, coupled with a growing number of people seeking mental health services, is putting a strain on Bloomington’s population of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, counselors, therapists and social workers.
“The number of mental health providers we have in Bloomington is being overtaxed,” said Scott Branam, executive director of behavioral health at IU Health Bloomington. “Based on the latest estimate that 150 more psychiatrists are needed in Indiana to meet the state’s needs, the shortage will continue. We will be seeing more nurse practitioners and physician assistants with prescribing privileges to help fill in that gap.”
Bob Siegmann, vice president of health care integration with Centerstone behavioral health center, said there is “most definitely” a shortage of mental health providers — particularly psychiatrists and nurse practitioners who can prescribe medications — in rural Indiana communities. “Nearly all the mental health centers in rural Indiana are struggling to recruit psychiatrists and nurse practitioners who can prescribe,” Siegmann said.
Branam said Bloomington has enough mental health providers — working at such facilities as Indiana University Health Outpatient Behavioral Health, Centerstone, the IU Student Health Center, Meadows and Milestones — to handle clients from Monroe County, but doesn’t have a sufficient number to adequately serve an influx of clients from neighboring counties.
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