$12 million state initiative aims to help students pursue behavioral health careers

Despite a growing need for mental health care in Massachusetts, a shortage of service providers has long posed a challenge, experts say. A state trust fund aims to bridge that gap by providing financial support to students who pursue careers in behavioral health fields to help boost the pipeline of trained behavioral health workers.

The Healey administration recently issued $12.5 million to 37 colleges and universities across the state to support paid internships and training programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

“By investing in students looking to treat those experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, we’re investing in the long-term health and wellness of communities across Massachusetts," Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement.

Hands-on work experience through internships or practicums is often required in degree or certificated behavioral health programs, but they're usually unpaid. That's financially unsustainable for many students. The trust fund aims to ease some of that financial burden and also encourage students from more culturally diverse backgrounds to enter the field by enrolling in area institutions.

In addition to larger campuses such as UMass Amherst, Tufts and Northeastern, beneficiaries include smaller colleges or public universities, such as Springfield College, Worcester State University and Framingham State University.

Bob LePage, the assistant secretary for career education, said internships often serve as an "on-ramp" to future employment. 

"This is going to be very helpful to smaller behavioral health organizations where they can attract various types of students and expand their reach and their base of opportunities," LePage said.

Smaller employers and community organizations often don't have the resources to pay students stipends like some larger employers can, LePage added. "We're trying to help the student and then also the employer to be able to help them recruit qualified talent in a more equitable and a more inclusive model."

Behavioral health fields include a range of roles such as psychologists, mental health counselors and social workers. Thousands of workers have left the behavioral health workforce since 2018 as the sector has been hampered by burnout, high turnover, low pay, and an influx of patients — some of which was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic — according to a recent report by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Michael LaSala, the dean of the school of social work at Simmons University, said the grant has "the potential to go a long way" in addressing the mental health workforce shortage.

Simmons University received $1.54 million from the state — the largest grant of any of the 37 schools. LaSala said the grant will help about 150 students at the Boston school work in hospitals, clinics and other behavioral health service providers. Graduate students are typically required to do their practicum three days a week, while undergraduate students are required to do about two days a week.

LaSala, who became dean in July, said he has visited mental health care providers in the Boston area that are struggling to find workers.

"I've seen even mental health clinics or mental health-oriented not-for-profits have to close rooms, to close programs because they don't have the personnel," he said.

The behavioral health workforce grants are part of a two-year initiative, according to LePage. The funds come from a behavioral health trust fund that was established by the legislature. The state also plans to provide scholarships to students enrolled in behavioral health programs, LePage said.