Sul Ross State University (SRSU) and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) have announced a collaborative initiative to combat the critical shortage of mental health providers in West Texas, one of the most underserved regions in the nation. This partnership focuses on developing a specialized workforce to meet the unique mental health needs of rural communities through innovative training programs.
Innovative Training Programs for Rural Needs
Dr. Barbara Tucker, Dean of Education and Professional Studies at SRSU, Dr. Audrey H. Stevens, Psy.D., of TTUHSC Permian Basin, and Crystal Lujan, M.Ed., a mental health rural fellow, recently highlighted this initiative at the Healthier Texas Summit in Austin. Their presentation, titled “How West Texas Academic Institutions Develop a Rural Mental Health Workforce,” detailed the integrated approach of TTUHSC’s Family Medicine Mental Health Fellowship and SRSU’s Clinical Mental Health Practicum. These programs aim to prepare students with practical, hands-on experiences essential for serving in West Texas’s rural settings.
Addressing the Urgent Need
The Texas Rural Frontier Region, which includes the Big Bend area, exhibits some of the highest mental health provider shortage scores in the United States. The collaborative programs between TTUHSC and SRSU are designed to mitigate these shortages by offering immersive training experiences in these communities. Supported by the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program, the partnership places trainees in rural health settings where they work closely with licensed professionals to gain the clinical hours required for licensure.
Impact and Future Plans
The initiative has already trained over 60 students, with many graduates now actively working in high-need areas. Notably, a BHWET trainee has become the sole mental health provider in Reeves County, highlighting the significant impact of the program. Looking forward, TTUHSC and SRSU plan to extend their training reach to more rural communities, expand the fellowship to include additional mental health specialties, and continue advocating for increased funding to support this vital workforce.
Greater Access and Improved Health Outcomes
Through these expanded efforts, communities in West Texas will have greater access to essential mental health services, potentially fostering improved health outcomes for the region’s rural populations.
For more information about this important initiative, please contact Jessica Schauman at jessica.schauman@sulross.edu. This partnership not only addresses immediate healthcare shortages but also invests in the long-term sustainability of rural health services in West Texas.
