Throughout Oregon, many communities simply do not have enough mental health and substance use treatment providers, with the greatest shortages in rural and frontier counties. For the people we serve in Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties, that shortage is not an abstract statistic. It shows up as long waitlists, limited provider choice, and the need to travel long distances for care.
That is why CBH is honored that our Executive Director, Shyra Merila-Simmons, is serving on the Governor’s Behavioral Health Talent Council. In this role, she is working alongside behavioral health leaders from across the state on a comprehensive plan to strengthen Oregon’s behavioral health workforce and to ensure that rural communities are not left behind.
In many rural and frontier communities, people must drive 30 to 60 minutes or more just to see a mental health prescriber. Some areas do not have a local prescriber at all. When care is hard to reach, people are more likely to delay or forgo treatment.
These access barriers contribute to serious consequences, including:
For individuals who are already facing housing instability, poverty, or co-occurring health conditions, every additional barrier can push care further out of reach. Investing in behavioral health services for rural Oregonians is not optional; it is a life-saving necessity.
The Governor’s Behavioral Health Talent Council was created to address one of Oregon’s most pressing challenges: building and sustaining a strong behavioral health workforce across the state. The Council is charged with identifying gaps, recommending solutions, and aligning efforts across agencies, providers, and communities.
Key areas of focus include:
The Council’s action plan outlines concrete steps so that every Oregonian, regardless of ZIP code, can get the care they need when they need it.
As a community-based nonprofit serving rural and coastal communities, CBH brings critical on-the-ground insight to this work. Our teams see every day how workforce shortages affect access to care for adults, youth, and families who are experiencing mental health challenges, substance use disorders, developmental disabilities, and homelessness.
By participating in the Behavioral Health Talent Council, Shyra is:
We are proud that CBH has a voice in shaping Oregon’s behavioral health future. We are also grateful to our staff, partners, and community members who make this work possible.
Strengthening Oregon’s behavioral health workforce will take time, collaboration, and sustained investment. The goal is clear: a system in which every person, no matter where they live, can access timely, high-quality mental health and substance use services.
CBH will continue to champion rural perspectives, support our dedicated staff, and partner with state and local leaders to build a more responsive and equitable behavioral health system for all Oregonians.
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