Substance Abuse and Mental Health Care Environment “Toxic” for Persons in Recovery and Those Working in the FieldJune 18, 2007
“The environments in which behavioral health care is both given and received are toxic for persons in recovery, family members, and the workforce,”according to a recent report commissioned by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The report examined the current status of the substance abuse and mental health—also known as behavioral health—workforce and found “overwhelming evidence that the behavioral health workforce is not equipped in skills or in numbers to respond adequately to the changing needs of the American population”(p. 1). Among the weakness contributing to the current “toxic”environment:To address these weakness, seven strategic goals with specific actions were developed and are discussed in length
•A Critical Workforce Shortage. . . . . .
•A Narrow Focus on Urban White Adults. . . . . .
•Dissatisfaction Among Persons in Recovery. . . . . .
•Inadequate and Irrelevant Training. . . . . .
To address these weakness, seven strategic goals with specific actions were developed and are discussed in length in the report. The report concludes that “the workforce remains the most essential ingredient for success in the development of resilience and for ensuring positive outcomes for people in recovery and their families”(p. 25).
Read Full Report (PDF)
Contributor: Don Phillips
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