Allegheny County residents face significant challenges in accessing behavioral health services, an issue highlighted by recent studies and surveys. Notably, a Countywide survey revealed that 42.7% of respondents believe improving access to mental health care, particularly for young people, should be a priority. This finding is supported by research from the University of Pittsburgh, which documented long wait times for appointments and challenges in connecting with providers. These issues stem from a critical shortage of behavioral health professionals and are compounded by time-consuming provider search processes.
In response, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS), along with Community Care Behavioral Health (CCBH), the County’s behavioral health managed care organization, are pursuing a series of investments and initiatives aimed at addressing these barriers and increasing service availability.
To improve access and reduce wait times, DHS and CCBH are focusing on:
- Creating visibility into appointment availability so clients and providers spend less time searching for services.
- Supporting the behavioral health workforce through loan repayment and cohort-based training programs to increase the number of providers.
- Investing in community-based mental health supports to offer additional options outside the traditional system.
- Expanding access to proven treatments like medication-assisted therapy for opioid addiction, cognitive behavioral therapy and group therapy.
- Augmenting clinical decision-making to ensure those who need help most get it quickly