Of 16 overseas psychiatrists working for State GAO polled, 12 said that their workload had increased. Image: CHRISTOPHER E ZIMMER/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffEmployees of the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development are reporting higher levels of work-related stress but at the same time there has been an increase in vacancies among psychiatrists and others providing them with mental health services, the GAO has said.
It said that of 16 overseas psychiatrists working for State GAO polled, 12 said that their workload had increased, while other officials reported an increase in demand for short-term counseling services due to the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other stressors. In addition, USAID officials reported that demand for counseling had almost doubled since 2018 in response to those crises and other factors,” a report said.
In addition to high demand and understaffing, GAO found issues with a lack of available health records electronically, delays in delivery of medication, and a lack of local providers.
State is seeking funding for additional psychiatrists and social workers, and USAID plans to increase funding for its counseling services and for programs to build resilience, the report said. It said that State agreed with a recommendation to collect ongoing feedback to determine whether its mental health services are meeting the needs.
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