20% Of Massachusetts Behavioral Health Beds Are Offline Due To Staffing Shortages

As of September 2022, a total of 20% of the 2,858 licensed inpatient psychiatric beds in 56 freestanding Massachusetts psychiatric facilities and acute care hospitals are offline (cannot be used) due to staffing shortages (a total of 568 beds). Of the 1,311 total vacant positions needed to staff these offline beds, 38.4% are for bachelor-level mental health workers, 36.0% are for registered nurses, and 6.7% are for social workers.

Based on the survey of state facilities, there are three main barriers to filling vacancies. These include: lack of qualified applicants (78%), applicants refusing offers . . .