Reduce Qualification Barriers to Mental Health Careers

Background

Mental health services in NI and globally face a funding and workforce crisis. Many psychology graduates with bachelor’s degrees can't enter the workforce because a master’s degree is often required for mental health roles. This is a missed opportunity, given the growing demand for services.

Additional details

We urge the Northern Ireland Executive and regulatory bodies to review entry-level requirements in psychology and mental health. Specifically, we ask that bachelor’s degree holders be given opportunities to pursue careers in this understaffed, underfunded sector. Allowing psychology graduates to enter at various levels will expand the workforce, ease the burden on specialists, and improve access to mental health care in Northern Ireland.