WHRO reports that VMAP supports primary care teams with education, psychiatric consultation and care navigation as youth mental health provider shortages continue.
Provider gaps across the region
WHRO Public Media reports that communities across Hampton Roads face critical shortages of child and adolescent psychiatrists, citing a report from the Virginia Mental Health Access Project, or VMAP. WHRO reports that shortages also include licensed mental health professionals, licensed clinical social workers and LPCs.
According to WHRO’s interview with VMAP Hampton Roads leader Victoria Cartagena, the limited workforce can create backlogs for assessments and treatment. Cartagena told WHRO that some children wait from six to nine months for services, and that shortages can contribute to more mental-health-related emergency department visits.
WHRO reports that these access problems remain despite the opening of a $224 million mental health hospital at The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in fall 2022.
Rural and urban barriers
WHRO reports that people in rural communities outside Hampton Roads, including Gloucester and the Eastern Shore, may need to travel significant distances to connect with a mental health provider. Cartagena also told WHRO that specialized care, psychiatry services and higher levels of care can involve barriers and wait times in Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
The report describes shortages as a statewide issue, with particular consequences for children and families seeking assessment, treatment or ongoing behavioral health support.
VMAP’s role
According to WHRO, VMAP is a state initiative that has worked since 2019 to connect children and families with mental health care. WHRO reports that, by the end of 2024, VMAP had helped more than 8,200 pediatric patients statewide access available mental health care.
Cartagena told WHRO that VMAP supports primary care physicians and family medicine providers with education on screening and assessment. WHRO reports that the program also offers same-day psychiatric consultation after an assessment and care navigation to help families connect with community resources.
Those resources may include continued psychiatric care, outpatient mental health therapy, speech services or other services, Cartagena told WHRO.
A navigation example
WHRO reports that Cartagena described a recent case involving a parent seeking help for a 13-year-old with behavioral health concerns. The child’s provider contacted VMAP for care-navigation support after the family had tried multiple services.
According to Cartagena’s account to WHRO, VMAP reviewed the services already used and helped connect the patient to services within about four weeks. Cartagena said the parent later described feeling less overwhelmed after receiving help finding an appropriate resource.
What this means for Virginia patients
WHRO’s reporting highlights that finding youth mental health services locally can involve wait times, travel or referrals through primary care. The directory lists 79 published clinics in Virginia for people searching for local treatment options.
This is general information, not medical advice.
More Virginia reporting on youth & families.
This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.