Authors: Elizabeth Heetderks-Fong, Anna Bobb
The U.S. faces a mental health care crisis, worsened by a shortage of providers and high costs, particularly affecting marginalized and rural communities. Community health workers (CHWs) have long increased access to physical health care and are now being used in mental health care to improve access. However, their role raises issues regarding policy, reimbursement, and practice scopes. CHWs benefit at-risk groups like communities of color, those with serious mental illness, rural populations, the elderly, and youth. This literature review examines various types of community mental health workers, their roles, skills, and impact on increasing care access, highlighting their potential to alleviate the professional workforce burden and improve mental health equity.
Link: Community Mental Health Workers: Their Workplaces, Roles, and Impact
Resource Topic: CHW, CHW Role, Mental health
Resource Type: Review
Year: 2024
Region:
Country: United States of America
Publisher May Restrict Access: Yes