State Rep. Estela Reyes (D-4th-Essex) said Massachusetts should increase access to inpatient mental health care.
Her comments come after Bay State News reported the Commonwealth ranked 29th among 50 states plus the District of Columbia for the number of psychiatric beds per 100,000 people.
“Yes, Massachusetts should expand access to inpatient mental health care,” Reyes told Merrimack Valley News. “This can be done in different ways, such as integrating mental health care into primary care, expanding the workforce for trained mental health service providers, and addressing economic disparities of where mental health care is located.”
A report released by the Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC) found that, “in 2023, Massachusetts had 9.5 psychiatric beds per 100,000 population.”
That number is well below the 40 to 60 beds per 100,000 that TAC said is the “recommended minimum” for states.
The TAC report said psychiatric bed availability has been consistently declining since the 1950s.
“In 1955, the country had 340 psychiatric beds per 100,000 people. By 2016, that number had fallen to 11.7 per 100,000, leaving many individuals with severe mental illness without adequate inpatient care options,” said the report.
Founded in 1998, the TAC is a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, Va., that focuses on mental health policy and research related to serious mental illness.
A report from the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum found that Massachusetts has 2,761 licensed psychiatric inpatient beds, serving approximately 74,000 psychiatric inpatient admissions per year. Despite these numbers, the state’s bed-to-population ratio remains insufficient to meet service demands.
Additionally, a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that in 2019, Massachusetts had a state hospital utilization rate of 0.29 per 1,000 population—lower than the national average of 0.41 per 1,000. This suggests that even with a relatively high number of psychiatric beds compared to some other states, Massachusetts still faces challenges in meeting the inpatient mental health care needs of its residents.
The shortage of psychiatric beds contributes to long wait times for mental health treatment, increased reliance on emergency departments for psychiatric crises, and difficulties in ensuring timely care for individuals with severe mental illness.
Reyes said her message to those in need of psychiatric care is “do not give up.”
“Join wait lists, expand the radius of your search, and contact local community centers to assist with the process,” she said. “Also, normalizing this conversation among friends and family can help with shared information and resources.”
Reyes has represented the 4th Essex District since January 4, 2023. Born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, she relocated to Lawrence, Massachusetts, with her family. Prior to her state legislature role, Reyes was a member of the Lawrence City Council from 2012, including serving as vice president.
Where does Massachusetts rank in psychiatric beds per 100,000 people?
