Mining for a Nevada ‘Counselor Lode’: Mental Health, Schools, and the Need for Responsive Legislation in the Silver State
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: Nationally, rates of mental health concerns such as depression and psychological stress have been rising, but individuals receiving treatment remains disproportionately small.The acute shortage of mental health professionals further worsens the persistent problem of providing access to mental health services.In addition, with less than 1,000 school counselors serving Nevada's nearly half a million students, currently, we are not meeting students' academic, career and personal/societal development needs.National survey data shows students desire greater access to school counselors, but Nevada's student-to-counselor ratio, 508 to one, is more than twice what is recommended by industry experts.Therefore, unmet mental health needs of children and adolescents pose a challenge to the academic success of students in Nevada's K-12 system.There is a strong body of research pointing to the effectiveness of clinical mental health counseling in treating and of school counseling in affecting positive academic outcomes for students and schools.This suggests that these professions could make a much-needed positive impact in Nevada.However, the shortage of clinical mental health counselors and school counselors in a state where demand for both is rising at a faster rate than the national average, creates a culminating crisis for the state. Recent Actions in Nevada• Moving from 49th to 51st from 2011 to 2014, Mental Health America (MHA) indicates "a lack of movement at the bottom indicates continued neglect of the mental health needs of constituents" (Mental Health America, 2016, p. 15). Considerations for Future ActionsNevada, which has rates of mental illness consistent with national averages, but far fewer counseling/mental health professionals, may consider the following mitigation measures to address the counselor shortage in the state:• Support federal legislation that addresses the mental health needs of adults and youth in Nevada.• Remove obstacles to licensure for clinical and mental health professionals coming from outof-state.• Revise state mandates to provide K-8 students and schools with school counselors as well as lowering the existing, overtaxed student-to-counselor ratios to meet national recommendations.• Develop innovative state legislation that stimulates and supports additional students to pursue degrees in higher education in order to fill currently vacant counseling roles. Statewide Benefits of Future Action• Counseling as a profession contributes to the success of other professions.Such training not only addresses mental health treatment, but also increases the likelihood of wellness in preventive services.• Evidence has shown that counseling is a proven a cost-effective intervention.Moreover, research indicates that counseling/therapy is related to a decrease in the need for physical medical/healthcare.• School counseling seems likely to improve college access as well as the increased academic success of English language learners and students entering STEM careers, further boosting Nevada's output of qualified workers to service a 21st century economy. Implications of Maintaining Status Quo• State and national employment trends place school counseling and clinical mental health counseling as fast-growing occupations, however demand is already exceeded the number of graduates from the only nationally accredited programs at NSHE intuitions.• Continued low rankings will indicate that Nevada is not adequately addressing the mental health needs of its residents.
Authors: Chris Wood, Ching‐Chen Chen, Jared Lau
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2756630478