Find Your Program

Or browse by

Browse our programs

Collaborative Care: Increasing Career Options for Mental Health Providers

As more medical practices implement a collaborative approach to healthcare, mental health patients receive better access to professionals with a social work degree, counseling degree, or psychology degree.

It’s estimated that only about 43% of the individuals suffering from depression and other common mental disorders are receiving the care they need.1 This gap, coupled with the high costs associated with healthcare, has led many medical practices to adapt a collaborative approach to treatment—offering physical and behavioral health services, all under one roof.

Under the collaborative care model, primary care physicians, mental health providers, and case managers work together to care for patients. This collaborative approach helps to lower costs and ensure the services, medications, and treatments patients receive are well coordinated. As an added benefit, this model of healthcare has opened new doors for those contemplating a social work degree, counseling degree, or psychology degree—both in online learning and traditional higher education settings.

Collaborative Care: Increasing Career Options for Those With a Psychology Degree

Unfortunately, not all collaborative medical practices currently include mental or behavioral healthcare coverage, though data has shown how beneficial it can be. One particular study examined the need for mental healthcare services to be integrated into a collaborative care model for Medicaid patients, and found that:2

  1. Of patients with mental health disorders, only 20% are in the care of a mental health specialist.
  2. When patients with more common mental health issues, such as depression, are cared for under a collaborative system, it is more effective and cost-efficient than conventional care.
  3. When patients’ antidepressant medications are prescribed by their primary care physician as opposed to a psychiatrist, only 20% show substantial clinical improvements.

The types of mental healthcare providers within a collaborative practice can vary, depending on the type of care needs, but might include professionals who hold an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Social Work with a specialization in Advanced Clinical Practice, or a PhD in Clinical Psychology. By combining these highly trained behavioral health providers with a team of medical specialists, patients are more likely to receive care that might otherwise have been neglected. The result? Healthier individuals—both physically and mentally.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering psychology, counseling, and social work degrees online. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.

1Source: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml
2Source: https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/medicaid-state-technical-assistance/health-home-information-resource-center/downloads/hh-irc-collaborative-5-13.pdf

Whether looking for information on programs, admissions, or financial aid, we're here to help.

Fill out the form and we will contact you to provide information about furthering your education.

Please use our International Form if you live outside of the U.S.

  • Step 1: Contact Information
  • Step 2: Academic Interests

Are you or your spouse an active or retired U.S. military service member?*

By submitting this form, I provide my signature, expressly consenting to calls, prerecorded messages, messages created by generative artificial intelligence, emails and/or texts regarding my educational options from Walden University (Walden) and its contractors using an automated dialing system to the number and email address provided. I understand my consent is not required to enroll at Walden, and that I can withdraw my consent at any time. To request information without consenting, please call 866-492-5336. For telephonic communications, message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. To opt out of communications via text messaging reply STOP or HELP for help or call 866-492-5336. For more information, visit Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.