Dave Megenhardt, Executive Director of the United Labor Agency (ULA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the ULA Counseling Center, improving access to mental health care and a shortage of mental health counselors.
Megenhardt started his conversation by providing an update on the ULA Counseling Center operated by previous guest, Alicia Boreman. The purpose of the counseling center is to assist workers in accessing proper mental health care, which they realized was lacking in the workers seeking the ULA’s help. The center has begun working with workers in the Cleveland area, including union members, students and those seeking a new career path. Megenhardt said that with the growing number of workers using the center, they have begun looking for more staff and counselors.
Nearly 20 percent of adult Americans will experience a mental health problem this year, Megenhardt said. Of those, only half will get assistance for their issues. Going beyond that, access is even more difficult for those suffering from mental health problems, with nearly 122 million Americans living in areas with no access to counseling, he said. By starting this type of service, the ULA is also looking to work with local universities to help develop more counselors through internships and employment programs with the center.
Finally, Megenhardt talked about the issues surrounding the shortage of mental health counselors. He said that the stress of the job, from large caseloads to a lack of job security, contributes to hesitation for a future therapist to enter the industry. There will need to be more counselors to create a fundamental change in the future of mental health support for workers. Groups in the mental health field should begin to work with universities to develop a pipeline for new counselors, Megenhardt said.
Hear more from Megenhardt on how the ULA is working to help workers access mental health care in the show above.