Bridging the Gap: Bellarmine University’s New Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program to Address U.S. Mental Health Provider Shortage

Bellarmine University’s Lansing School of Nursing has recently introduced a new program to address the shortage of mental health providers: a master’s degree program for aspiring Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. This program aims to equip nurse practitioners with the necessary training to conduct psychiatric evaluations and provide treatment.

Dr. Chris Webb, chair of Graduate Nursing at Bellarmine University and director of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program, believes that this introduction will help bridge the gap in mental health care by expanding outreach and treatment opportunities. By doing so, it seeks to improve health outcomes and overall quality of life for those in need.

In fact, a report by Mental Health America states that over 50 million Americans experienced a mental illness in 2019-2020, yet a significant portion did not receive treatment due to factors such as cost or lack of insurance coverage or a shortage of mental health providers. In the U.S., there are an estimated 350 individuals for every one mental health provider, highlighting the urgent need for more professionals in the field.

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program at Bellarmine University is primarily offered online, allowing professional nurses to pursue their studies part-time over two years, including two summers. Graduates of the program will be equipped with the skills to provide psychiatric disease management and advanced psychotherapy techniques to those in need.