Michelle Schein, associate professor, clinical coordinator and program director for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, speaking as a panelist at the Disability and Mental Health Summit.
Michelle Schein, associate professor, clinical coordinator and program director for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, recently attended the 11th annual Disability and Mental Health Summit in Western Pennsylvania, serving on one of the summit’s panels.
State Representative Dan Miller has been hosting this event for several years, and he reached out to Pitt’s Department of Counseling and Behavioral Health, requesting faculty members to speak about the mental health staffing pipeline.
“The panel was going to focus on staffing shortfalls and challenges students face that could possibly be addressed by the state to support more students entering the mental health field,” Schein said. “I was excited to accept the invitation and advocate for our current and future students.”
Schein participated in the panel alongside two other stakeholders, where she discussed the barriers of mental health staffing, and potential solutions to these divisions in the profession.
“I focused on several topics – namely funding and reimbursement for mental health services, low retention for folks entering the mental health field, licensure challenges and possible areas legislatures could help,” Schein said. “These included improved reimbursement rates and improved licensure support and entering into the counseling compact for counselors, as well as scholarships, tuition assistance and loan forgiveness for counseling students.”
Ultimately, Schein expressed that she found the panel to be a very rewarding and impactful experience, opening a necessary conversation surrounding the disparities within the counseling field.
“It was an amazing experience,” Schein said. “The legislators who were in attendance provided feedback on the status of several legislative pieces that aligned with the needs identified by my panel.”
For the panelists, attendees and incoming students alike, Schein said the discussion underscored the importance of advocating for current and future counselors across the state and beyond.
“There is a significant shortage of mental health professionals in Pennsylvania. According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2022, 47% of the U.S. population lived in an area with a mental health workforce shortage,” Schein said. “It’s imperative we train more mental health professionals and support them as they begin their careers, so they stay in the field. I will take any opportunity to advocate for our students and the mental health field!”
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To get started on the path to a counseling career, speak with an enrollment specialist today at enroll@shrs.pitt.edu to learn about the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at SHRS!