Elon University Responds to Mental Health Professional Shortage with New Master’s Program
As North Carolina grapples with a significant shortage of mental health professionals, Elon University is stepping forward with a solution. Starting next fall, the university will introduce a Master of Science in Licensed Mental Health Counseling to tackle this pressing issue.
According to a report by the North Carolina Institute of Medicine, by 2025, a staggering 97 out of the state’s 100 counties are expected to be classified as professional mental health shortage areas. This alarming statistic has prompted Elon University to take action by creating the new graduate program.
Judy Folmar, who has been a part of Elon’s faculty, teaching undergraduate counseling courses for over two decades, is serving as the interim program director. She highlights the urgent need for more counselors in the state, particularly in areas surrounding addiction and substance use. “North Carolina has a huge need for counselors, especially around addiction and substance use,” Folmar notes. “It’s been at the epicenter of opioid use for years.”
In response to this need, the new program will include four courses specifically focused on substance use treatment, equipping students to qualify as licensed clinical addiction specialists upon graduation. The curriculum will blend in-person and online classes, complemented by clinical placements.
Prospective students interested in joining the inaugural cohort have until April 15 to submit their applications, as the program seeks to fill a critical gap in mental health services in the region.
