Mental health professionals, particularly those who specialize in services for children, are likely to get a boost in the coming months with help from a law signed this week by President Obama. The President signed a bill expanding the State Children's Health Initiative Program, which will now provide health coverage to about ten million children nationwide from lower-income families. Mental health is given parity with physical health treatments in the legislation, ensuring that children in need of such services will have an easier time getting them. On the U.S. News and World Report website, former American Academy of Pediatrics president Jay E. Berkelhamer is quoted as saying that nearly 20 percent of all visits to pediatricians are related to mental health issues and that despite Obama's action, "mental health needs are nowhere near being met." According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for mental health services are largely expected to grow across the board, from school counselors to clinical psychologists and many others. Demand for psychologists is expected to grow 15 percent by 2016, while demand for psychiatric aides is also considered strong. Other rapidly growing specialities in this area include substance abuse/behavioral disorder counselors (34 percent growth) and mental health counselors (30 percent).  |