New program aims to alleviate mental health professional shortage in Northeast Wisconsin

ASHWAUBENON (WLUK) — A shortage of mental health professionals in Wisconsin is sparking the launch of a new pilot program to address the critical need.

It’s through a partnership between Emplify Health by Bellin and Marquette University.

Thanks to a gift from The Richard J. Resch Foundation to the Bellin Health Foundation, the two have partnered to launch a seven-year pilot program to address the critical shortage of mental health professionals in the Northeast Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

On Wednesday, organizers held a news conference to highlight components of the program — such as tuition and stipend support, hands-on clinical training, mentorship and professional development, employment path at Emplify Health by Bellin and sign-on and retention bonuses.

It will provide students a pathway to education, licensing and eventually, employment.

“Having been through and had to do all of this myself, I know what a gift it is and I know these students will also understand the gift of this,” Emplify Health by Bellin Clinical Supervisor Kimberly Sandstrom said.

25 students from Northeast Wisconsin attending Marquette University will be awarded a scholarship to earn a master’s in clinical mental health counseling. It will cover tuition, textbooks, stipend support, 3,000 hours of hands-on clinical training, mentorship and a job with Emplify Health by Bellin after graduation.

“This particular gift — which is really transformative — actually addresses that whole barrier and takes all of those financial barriers out of the way,” Marquette University Professor of the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Alan Burkard said.

Officials say the program will have a significant economic impact, with potential annual savings of over $250 million. Tuition itself for the 60 credits needed costs around $57,000.

The need for mental health professionals in and around Northeast Wisconsin continues to grow. On average in Brown County, there’s one mental health provider for every 380 people. Statewide, it’s one in every 400.

“Increased demand for treatment has strained available providers and led to burnout across the profession. Everyone wants to meet the need, and when you can’t, it’s devastating,” Emplify Health Executive Vice President & Bellin Region President Chris Woleske said.

Those in the industry said within the next three years, there will be a shortage of about 500 mental health counselors in Northeast Wisconsin. Right now, wait times to see a therapist could take months.

The CDC said among young people between 2016 and 2020, anxiety diagnoses grew by 29% and depression increased by 27%. The hope is this initiative will help chip away from a much larger issue.

“We have such a big demand out there of people needing mental health, that this is going to just help bring more help to people,” Sandstrom said.

The program starts this fall.

If you or someone you know is in need of mental health assistance remember you can call or text 988 at any time to be connected to a trained counselor.