Oregon Behavioral Health Workers Discuss Short Staffing Challenges

In a recent roundtable discussion held in honor of World Mental Health Day, key players in Oregon's behavioral health sector, including AFSCME workers and Rep. Andrea Salinas, spotlighted the pressing challenges facing caregivers. Chief among these issues is the widespread short staffing, a problem that significantly impacts service delivery.

Porter Clements, a bilingual outreach and enrollment specialist at Outside In and president of AFSCME Local 1790, highlighted that factors such as workplace violence, inadequate pay, and insufficient benefits contribute to the staffing shortages. "It’s really a cyclical relationship between them all," Clements noted, pointing to the interconnected nature of these issues.

Outside In primarily serves clients dealing with homelessness and mental health or substance use disorders, who often approach care with skepticism and distrust. Clements emphasized that the demanding nature of the work leads to burnout, resulting in high turnover rates within the profession.

Rep. Andrea Salinas, co-chair of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, acknowledged the dedication of behavioral health professionals, stating, "Mental and behavioral health professionals sacrifice so much to care for our communities." She stressed the need for better support and resources, saying, "If we truly want to address the mental health and addiction crisis in this country, we first have to make sure that our workforce has the resources and support they need to do their jobs."

Echoing these concerns, Haley Coupe, interim Healthcare Programs supervisor at United We Heal Career Pathways, pointed out that high caseloads and low wages drive high turnover rates and worker burnout. Many potential caregivers, including parents and nontraditional students, find the path unsustainable despite their personal commitment to the field.

United We Heal aims to alleviate these barriers by offering paid training, free education, and supportive services to aspiring healthcare workers. Both Clements and Coupe advocate for increased funding and employer collaboration to ensure competitive compensation and benefits for caregivers.

Despite the difficulties, Clements finds fulfillment in their work, expressing, "It feels really good knowing we’re making our community a better, healthier place to live. You know, we’re not here to get rich. We’re helpers by nature. So being able to contribute to people getting better means the world."

AFSCME, representing over 50,000 essential workers in mental and behavioral health nationwide, continues to champion improvements in staffing levels, community access to quality mental health care, and the safety and well-being of frontline workers.