Whether your facility is located in a major metro or a rural county, your patients deserve timely access to mental health care.
Yet for many, that care is too far away or too long in coming. Across the country, the mental health provider shortage is leaving entire regions, sometimes called “mental health deserts,” without consistent psychiatric coverage.
You see the effects every day: longer waits, rising pressure on emergency departments, and primary care physicians managing complex mental health needs without the specialty training those cases require. The result is more than a scheduling challenge. It’s a strain on the well-being of patients and the public, as well as the economic health of local communities.
The good news? You have options. Locum tenens psychiatry staffing brings experienced psychiatrists and psychiatric clinicians directly into the gaps, helping you maintain continuity of care, respond to surges in demand, and keep your behavioral health programs healthy.
Table of Contents
The Behavioral Health Provider Shortage Is Worsening
The US is facing a severe lack of behavioral health providers, including psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and psychologists. That shortage is especially severe in rural and underserved areas, where patients often face lengthy travel times and even longer wait times for care.
The numbers tell the story. As of mid-2024, more than 122 million Americans, over one-third of the population, live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area. Many counties have no practicing psychiatrists at all. When care is available, access is still delayed. Only 19% of psychiatrists are accepting new patients, and the median wait for an in-person appointment is 67 days. Nearly half of adults with a mental illness go without treatment, despite a growing need.
The result:
- Behavioral health conditions go untreated longer.
- Emergency services are increasingly used as stopgaps.
- Primary care physicians are left managing complex psychiatric needs outside their training.
Addressing this shortage calls for both immediate and long-term solutions. Locum tenens psychiatry staffing not only fills vacancies but also expands access, reduces wait times, and supports better outcomes for patients and communities.
How Locum Tenens Psychiatry Staffing Can Help
When psychiatric coverage is stretched thin, you need a solution you can count on. Locum tenens psychiatry staffing firms connect you with experienced psychiatrists and psychiatric clinicians who can step in quickly, keep programs running, and meet patient needs without interruption.
Whether you are covering a short-term leave, managing an unexpected vacancy, or responding to a sudden surge in patient volume, these clinicians bring specialized skills and the flexibility to adapt to your setting.
Why it works:
- Wide clinical experience: Many locum psychiatrists have worked in inpatient units, outpatient clinics, crisis centers, correctional facilities, and telepsychiatry settings.
- Specialized expertise: Many hold subspecialty training in addiction, geriatric, child/adolescent, or forensic psychiatry.
- Rapid coverage: With flexible start dates and streamlined credentialing, locum clinicians can be placed within days.
- Continuity of care: Consistent coverage reduces treatment interruptions and supports better patient outcomes during transitions.
- Program growth support: Locum clinicians can help you launch or expand behavioral health services without overburdening existing staff.
- Wait time reduction: With more clinicians available, patients can access care sooner, especially in areas of shortage.
What to Expect When Working with Locum Psychiatrists
Every facility’s needs are different. That’s why the best locum psychiatrists are adaptable, experienced, and ready to plug into your existing workflows. Many are accustomed to navigating electronic health records, working independently, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
With the right match, locum psychiatry staffing can stabilize your schedule and help lay the groundwork for long-term, sustainable mental health services.
A Reliable Partner for Behavioral Health Coverage
Locum tenens psychiatry enables facilities to respond to staffing shortages without compromising the quality of care. It offers an immediate path to maintaining behavioral health coverage, whether you’re rural or urban, short-staffed or expanding services.
When you need flexible, qualified psychiatry coverage, OnCall Solutions is ready to help. As your CMO-led medical staffing and hospital practice partner, we connect you with behavioral health clinicians who are ready to make a difference today and help you build a stronger program for tomorrow.
Connect with us to get started.