A graduate student-staffed, low-cost mental health program: a community-based model to increase access to services

ABSTRACT

Student-run and student-staffed behavioral health clinics increase service capacity and access to low-cost services and are usually created by medical schools and behavioral health graduate programs. There is little information about student-staffed programs developing independently of academic institutions. As the demand for mental health services continues to grow, it is essential that successful models of community-based service provision are shared so other agencies can replicate models and increase service capacity. This article outlines the elements of a student-staffed behavioral health program model run by a nonprofit. Details on staffing, student selection, supervision, evaluation methods, supplemental training, and funding are included.

KEYWORDS:

• Interdisciplinary
• internship
• low-cost mental healthcare model
• mental healthcare access
• student-run
• student-staffed

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

No funds or grants were received by the authors in preparing this manuscript.