WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Wichita State University is launching a new effort to help more people get mental health care. It’s the first of its kind in the state and it’s fully online. The university is partnering with Via Christi St. Joseph.
Advocates say there’s a great need since federal data finds 80% of Kansas counties have a shortage of mental health professionals.
These technicians will assist psychologists and psychiatrists and fill the gap in health care access.
“We’re trying to work with rural Kansas because the individuals from rural Kansas can do the online courses and trying to set up those clinical experiences that’ll be a little bit closer to home for them,” said Debra Pile, Chair of the School of Nursing and Dean of Nursing Practice at Wichita State.
“We’ll help support them by, you know, providing clinical spaces to expose their students as they develop academically,” said Claudio Ferraro, President at Via Christi St. Joseph.
Students enrolling in this fully online program will train for essential roles in mental health care.
They will be able to complete their clinical work close to home, which is beneficial for those in rural Kansas.
Students will take courses with several departments including psychology and health sciences to prepare them for their state licensing exam.
These technicians would assist with medication management, therapy sessions and patient visits.
“Programs like this that are new provide new energy. And when resources are applied, and community organizations come together, both academic and providers, I think that’s a winning recipe to move forward,” said Ferraro.
“So there are only about between 50 and 75 licensed in the state of Kansas. And the need is much higher up around three or four hundred,” said Pile.
This is an entry-level position, and credits in this program could be applied toward a healthcare degree program, a stepping stone to further expanding the Kansas healthcare workforce.
The program begins in the spring of 2025, and enrollment is open now. Click here for more information on this new initiative.
