GPE FY 2006 Appropriations White Paper

Graduate Psychology Education

Training Health Service Psychologists to
Respond to America's Critical Health Needs

Requesting Action

It is requested that the Appropriations Committee provide $6 million in the FY 2006 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations bill for the Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Program in the Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr) within the Allied Health and Other Disciplines budget activity of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) . This unique program was established in FY 2002 to meet demonstrated needs for integrated, interdisciplinary health care services for underserved populations. In FY 2003 a portion of these funds was allocated to begin a new focus on geropsychology training.

Statutory Authority

Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998 , P.L. 105-392, Amended Part D, Sec.755 of the Public Health Service Act, Allied Health and Other Disciplines to authorize projects to plan, develop and operate or maintain graduate programs in behavioral and mental health practice as defined in Sec.799B.

Identified Need

Unmet Behavioral and Mental Health Needs

Behavior and health are inextricably intertwined; thus there is a critical need for integrated health care services. The World Health Organization (WHO, 1996) has also reported that depression will be the world's second most prevalent health problem in the 21st century and that most of the other health problems will be behaviorally-based (e.g., heart disease and AIDS). Likewise, in Healthy People 2010 (HRSA, 2001), 6 of the 10 Leading Health Indicators of our nation's health are behaviorally based (substance abuse, tobacco use, injury and violence, physical activity, overweight and obesity, and responsible sexual behavior); another indicator is mental health. Psychology as a health profession has a long and successful history of providing services to prevent, diagnose, and treat each of these health indicators, and in responding to societal needs in times of national disasters.

The need for mental health services has been documented in the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Report (2003) and before that in the 1999 Surgeon General's Report: about 1 in 5 American adults (44 million people) experience a mental disorder in a given year and 28% of adults meet the full criteria for a mental or addictive disorder. Moreover, in June 2000 the Surgeon General reported that 1 in 10 children and adolescents suffer from mental disorders, and in January 2001 the Surgeon General reported that 20% of older persons experience a mental disorder. In fact, by 2030 older adults will account for 20% of the population, up from 13% today (Department of Health and Human Services, 2001). Accompanying this population growth, it is anticipated that the number of older adults with mental disorders and behavioral health problems will almost quadruple from 4 million in 1970 to 15 million in 2030 -- a 275% increase.

Shortages of Behavioral and Mental Health Professionals

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration stated recently that none of their goals including the provision of mental and behavioral health services to rural residents can be met "without solving one underlying problem: the need for a bigger, better workforce." (SAMHSA News, Nov/Dec 2004). According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, there are now over 1,600 Mental Health Professional Shortage areas throughout the nation. [These are only the communities that chose to self-identify.] At the same time, there is a serious need to improve the uneven geographic distribution of the health service psychology workforce and to increase the availability of appropriately trained psychologists for underserved populations. The provision of psychological services is an essential component of a “seamless system” of health care, one that is comprehensive, preventive and cost-effective.

Health service psychologists have developed and provided evidence-based services in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of a wide range of health problems, including mental health disorders. For example, health service psychologists provide treatments to (1) promote adherence to medical regimens, (2) decrease behavioral health risk factors (e.g., smoking, overeating, unsafe sex, sedentary lifestyle), (3) manage physical problems such as pain and urinary incontinence, (4) prepare patients for stressful medical procedures, (5) promote responsible self-management in health care, (6) foster rehabilitation from illness and injury, (7) facilitate coping with illness and threat, and (8) treat psycho-physiological disorders (e.g., headache, irritable bowel syndrome). In addition, health service psychologists provide diagnostic and treatment services for a wide range of mental health disorders, as well as crisis intervention and health promotion services.

Specific Requested Action

Funding in the amount of $6 million is requested to continue the Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Program in the Bureau of Health Professions. The GPE funding will be awarded through a competitive grant process to train health service psychologists enrolled in APA accredited programs to work with other professions in the provision of services to underserved populations, particularly in rural communities, including the elderly, children, the chronically ill, and victims of abuse and trauma, especially Iraqi war veterans.

Suggested Report Language

Health Resources and Services Administration
Allied Health and Other Disciplines

The Committee provides $6 million to continue the Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Program within the Bureau of Health Professions. The Committee understands that this is the only federally funded psychology training program, and for this reason, considers its continuation a high priority. This competitive program will continue to provide grant awards for work with underserved populations, particularly in rural communities, including elderly, children, the chronically ill, and victims of abuse or terror, including Iraqi war veterans.

Contact: Nina Levitt * American Psychological Association * 202/336-6023