UPDATE 1/13/2020. "Mental health does not have a color, it does not have boundaries, and it does not respond well to aggression, It is a matter of the heart," by Tanya L. Burgos.

Dear: President Joe Biden

RE: Petition #mentalhealthshortage throughout all 50-states, “Grandfather US in” to meet the demands of the current state of emergency within the mental health field.

Marriage & Family Therapist:  Shortage 10, 470; Available 40,250; Needed 29,780. 

Psychiatrist: Shortage 15,400  Available 60,610; Available 29,780.

Mental Health Counselors: Shortage 26,930; Needed 172,630; Available 145,700.

Social Workers: Shortage 48,540; Needed 157,760; Available 109,220.

Psychologist: Shortage 57,490; Needed 246,420; Available 188,930. 

School Counselors: Shortage 78,050; Needed 321,500; Available 243,450

Credit: www.goodtherapy.org (chart breakdown)

At the time of the prediction we were not in the middle of a pandemic, race war, or at risk for our own survival. So, bridging the gap and finding immediate solutions is important for the future of mental health in America. There are an estimated 650,000 to 672,000 active social workers in the United States; significantly fewer are licensed. Out of these 672,000, only 372,000 mental health workers are licensed and hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The other 300,000 are individuals who are employed by agencies or companies under the title of “Social Worker,” largely because they have neither a bachelor’s or master’s degree and a fraction of the 300,000 are licensed in multiple states which makes it hard to know how many social workers and other mental health professionals are licensed.

     There are only 2% of African American non-licensed or licensed social workers in the United States, according to the National Workforce Initiative Steering Committee, 2017.  In the African American culture, we are less likely to seek mental health services than our counterparts due to mistrust, feelings of shame, lack of education, and fear of being labeled.  One of the things I have noticed working in the clinical field is the systemic and systematic racism, favoritism and separatism needs within these agencies statewide needs to be addressed. I have worked in places that did not hire African Americans who were non-English, so it was hard for black clients to identify with their therapist which created microaggression towards African Americans that are already reluctant to seek help of any kind. 

#mentalhealthshortage should be an important hashtag. This initiative needs to be televised because the communities and people who will suffer the most are African Americans and people of color. #mental health shortage is not popular for the African American community because of the stigma that is associated with seeking mental health services.

The IMPACT

     No disrespect but white people are not built to enter our communities to create a change; when they are unable to relate or understand the fight or flight of black or brown people. Especially, when most of us feel like they were the cause of our demise before we were able to live as human beings we were judged. Our color made us martyrs at birth something white privilege or those who identify as white will never understand. #mentalhealthshortage was created to bring awareness to the lack of African American social workers and people of color, who live in work in disproportionate and marginalized communities. These are the real heroes who stay in the fight to restore and reprogram the minds of the less fortunate. We are, however, grateful for the allies but, sometimes that can cause more damage than good to someone who is not able to relate or come from a place of empathy. 

Now for the creation of the government

     The government created the divide of color and along with that divide came underdeveloped minds damaged by environmental factors that the government forced us to live in as a start of our foundation. We did not inherit riches; we inherited the art of surviving most would consider it suffering if you are not strong enough to see a way out. Not only do our souls live in fear, but our souls were also reincarnated to live in fear created by the government's mission to protect white privilege. So, why do we die never being able to live a fulfilled life on Earth. 

     It is moral injustice, and it is political psychological warfare on the African Americans and people of color communities. So, when they see us, we are portrayed to be the threat. When in fact we are mentally lost in a world that told us we do not belong therefore, we live in fear of the threat. 

     The government or the states (law enforcements) does not even understand who we are because we have yet to understand ourselves mentally. We are all responsible for our own healing and the government is responsible to provide adequate resources to assist us with the process of healing. 

Mental health is relevant to change the current state of society. 

      What African Americans need to know is that our mind is our POWER, once we open our minds power; resources and access to power and privilege can no longer be denied, it is limitless and abundant. It is a source that no longer comes from a place of needing assistance or acceptance, subconsciously it is already written once the fear of mental instability is dissolved. If we continue to live in a state of victimhood, lack and uncertainty of a future it is not because we chose to live in mental torment it becomes an everyday norm. This is the state of the African Americans who live-in at-risk communities. White people go to therapy at a faster rate than African Americans because if they did not find it helpful, they would not attend. It is also more accessible, acceptable, and it is not attached to a stigma. 

     It is also easy to say statistically that the mental health field is predominantly run by white women and a few businessmen. Mental health is for “white people,” that was the saying growing up, that is fear and ignorance and resistance to change. Fear of growing into someone higher than your circumstances is not a white thing. It is the right thing to do for ourselves and others around us that provides more safety and less destructive behaviors. The same fear allows others to have power and control over who we are and our community. We would like to do better but, the resources are limited, and it makes it easy for anyone to fail if their mind is not strong enough to live outside of their current circumstances. Not too many people can say that they have “Survived Through Real Evil Environments That Lead Individuals Fearing Evolution,” by Jayquan Berry and Xavier Blanco, A clothing brand named Streetlife Young Black Entrepreneurs (Y.B.E). Evolving should be a basic human right as it is human nature. 

Why should we ask for help?  

       Mental health in the African American communities is needed, change should not be feared it should be embraced. We say we do not want it but if it were exclusive and done privately it would be accepted by the African American community. Going into a building that reads, “behavioral and mental health” is sending a message that “I am not normal, something is wrong with me.” Humanity is suffering in silence and some out loud as the opioid addiction; suicidal rates, domestic violence cases have increased.

     Mental health treatment has increased, and mental health professionals are being heavily saturated with cases during this pandemic. Mental Health Professional’s do not get a break. Now we are being asked to be first responders on top of saving lives. While managing and dealing with social injustice and social inequality issues that personally impact us and our client’s. In addition to studying, caring for our families, and working from home. People of all races and demographics have contacted me crying and sharing their personal stories of fear of losing their job because of expired permits or that they need their licenses to keep working and feeling unworthy or not enough because they have failed. 

How is it that people's livelihood is not a state of emergency? Humanity is in a mental health crisis that is unseen. Who will survive?

     As a result of failing the exam multiple times before and during the pandemic. Having to take an exam in the middle of the pandemic has taken a psychological and financial toll on us. As we deal with the complexities and ambiguities of our own internal distress, we must continue to serve others. That is a heavy burden and the reality of it no one cares. We are the heartbeat of humanity and all souls who are lost rely on us to make them feel whole. How can we help others become whole without feeling complete ourselves? We bear the burden because we were chosen to carry the weight of others' burdens as well as our own. It is a selfless act.

     However, the hard truth is that no one recognized or acknowledged that we existed until defunding the police department. The government wants to use mental health professionals as a tool to help monitor and deescalate the departments inability to protect and serve at risk communities. We are ready for the task and we are honored to be called but, what do we get in return for our services and placing ourselves in harm's way. Our jobs are already dangerous, but this is the next level of danger. 

     This too affects us, and we are hurting and exhausted. We are begging for relief grandfathering us in will be a great benefit to our overall well-being. Additionally, it will serve as a higher purpose for the whole of humanity that is in a fragile state. An examination should not deem us worthy; a license is a way to keep us from our freedom.

    Grandfathering us in will allow private practice; home-based businesses and entrepreneurial opportunities to form. #mentalhealthahortage if approved it will allow for African American mental health professionals the opportunity to be creative and free flowing with our art of healing our own people. It will change the future and the face of mental health.

What we are asking for?

     Due to the current state of emergency, we are asking President Joe Biden to consider putting in place an Executive Order to Grandfather in qualified social workers and other mental health professionals in all 50-states. To Grandfather US in, is not a large task considering the growing demand for social workers and mental health professionals.

We propose the following requirements and provisions:

• 100 hours of supervision, 36 months of field experience, and 3,000 contact hours before the pandemic began.
• Allow graduates to automatically confer to an LMSW.
• Allow an MSW and LMSW with 3.5 years or more of experience to automatically confer to an LCSW.
• MHC, MFT, Psychologist and all other clinicians should be grandfathered in based on the existing criteria with 3 years or more of experience. 

     We are also asking that the Grandfather provision be endorsed in all jurisdictions (50-states) that have been affected by the COVID19. No further examinations should be needed, and the license should be acknowledged for a lifetime. Application fees will remain the same according to the Association of Social Worker Boards (ASWB)’s current fees. We are also asking that all 50-states take into consideration 3 times fail policy that allows a candidate to become licensed, certain fees may apply. The state of Texas did this in the early 2000’s. The purpose of the Executive Order and Grandfathering US in would be to help reduce the backlog at testing sites and to meet the demand for licensed mental health professionals to help US reach the masses which is the long-term goal. The current provisions are temporary. The grief of the nation rests in the hands of social workers and other mental health professionals. 

     Thank you, President Joe Biden, for your dedication and compassion. Thank you for walking with integrity, which is what the country needs during the most vulnerable time in history. 

 

Leaders without a title 

                                                                                                                                         References

 

Health Resources and Services Administration/National Center for Health Workforce Analysis; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Office of Policy, Planning, and Innovation. National Projections of Supply and Demand for Selected Behavi, n.d.) https://bhw.hrsa.gov/node/535

Jay Ray Hays (2007). Texas Law for the Social Worker: A Sourcebook. Bayou Publishing Law 312 pages.

Salsberg, E., Quigley, L., Mehfoud, N., Acquaviva, K. D., Wyche, K., & Silwa, S. (2017). Profile of the social work workforce. 

Side Bar: *grandfathering Clause is connected to old rules to enslave us. It should be removed from law period moving forward.