Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska
University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Behavioral Health Workforce Capacity in Nebraska

Estimated Growth in Appointments with
Licensed Behavioral Health Providers in Nebraska: 2010-2024

Licensed Behavioral Health Workforce Growth

Nebraska recognized the importance of the behavioral health of its residents and responded with an innovative solution in 2009, establishing the nation’s first behavioral health workforce center—BHECN—at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Through the Nebraska Model, BHECN advances a comprehensive approach to behavioral health workforce development spanning career awareness, preparation, training experiences, professional support, research and evaluation, and outreach—an approach that has increasingly informed similar efforts across the country. Organizations, communities, and partners across Nebraska have since joined in strengthening and expanding components of this model, reflecting a shared commitment to the state’s behavioral health workforce and the well-being of its residents.

BHECN’s efforts focus on the licensed behavioral health workforce, who play a critical role in diagnosing and providing advanced treatment of behavioral health disorders. Licensed behavioral health providers include psychiatrists, psychiatric advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), psychiatric physician assistants, psychologists, licensed independent mental health practitioners (LMHPs), licensed mental health practitioners (LIMHPs), and licensed alcohol and drug counselors (LADCs).[1]

Although shortages remain in rural and under-resourced communities, between 2010 and 2024, there was a 49% increase in the number of licensed behavioral health providers practicing in Nebraska. [2]  There was also a 24% increase in the number of licensed behavioral health providers practicing in rural counties.

Purpose and Methods

We utilize information about the growth in the licensed behavioral health workforce to estimate the number of additional appointments available to Nebraskans in 2024 with licensed behavioral health providers compared with 2010. Information about the actual number of behavioral health appointments or behavioral health clients is not centralized or publicly available.

For our analysis, we assumed each provider worked an average of 48 weeks per year. We estimated low clinical capacity at 10 clinical hours per week, medium capacity at 20 clinical hours per week, and high clinical capacity at 30 clinical hours per week. We used conservative estimates of two visits per hour for clinicians providing medical behavioral health services and one visit per hour for clinicians providing psychological assessment and therapy services. For ease of interpretation, we present medium capacity estimates.   

Clinicians Providing Medical Behavioral Health Services

Since 2010, Nebraska has added 168 psychiatrists, psychiatric APRNs, and psychiatric physician assistants. As a result, an estimated 322,560 additional appointments with licensed psychiatric medical providers were available to Nebraskans in 2024 compared to 2010. The substantial growth of the psychiatric APRN workforce accounted for nearly 80% of the additional appointments.

Clinicians Providing Psychological Assessment and Therapy Services

Since 2010, Nebraska has added 950 psychologists, LMHPs, LIMHPs, and LADCs. As a result, an estimated 912,000 additional appointments with licensed psychological assessment and therapy providers were available to Nebraskans in 2024 compared to 2010. The substantial growth of the LIMHP workforce accounted for most of the additional appointments.

Rural Providers

Since 2010, rural Nebraska counties have added 143 licensed behavioral health providers, including 30 who provide medical behavioral health services. As a result, an estimated 166,080 additional appointments with licensed behavioral health providers were available to Nebraskans in rural counties in 2024 compared to 2010.

Conclusion

Nebraska’s innovative decision to develop BHECN in 2009 and its continued commitment to improving access to behavioral health care have resulted in an estimated 1.2 million additional appointments with licensed behavioral health providers in 2024 compared to 2010. This progress demonstrates the value of long-term, data-informed workforce development strategies. Given that behavioral health needs in Nebraska have increased and workforce shortages persist, continued investment in behavioral health workforce development, training pathways, and statewide collaboration is needed to ensure that all Nebraskans have access to highly trained, licensed behavioral health providers when they need them.

[1] In Nebraska, social workers providing clinical behavioral health services are licensed as LMHP or LIMHP.

[2] Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska. (2025). The Licensed Behavioral Health Workforce in Nebraska: 2010 to 2024. https://www.unmc.edu/bhecn/research-data-policy/2010_2024_overall_snapshot.html