As of 2018, there were approximately 40,000 psychiatrists actively practicing in the U.S. Based on psychiatry needs across different settings, a recent report by SAMHSA has estimated that closer to 143,000 psychiatrists would be needed to serve the needs of populations with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), resulting in a shortfall of over 100,000 psychiatrists.
The extent of this shortage of psychiatrists is likely even greater due to the fact that:
Addressing this shortage will require increasing the number of psychiatry graduates who treat individuals with SMI, with a particular focus on underserved regions of the country.
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