Psychologist shortage prompts UD-Mercy to create master's degree scholarship

Chandra Fleming, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
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Americans are having a meltdown, and the U.S. needs more psychologists.

There is increasing demand in the U.S. for anxiety, depression and trauma-related treatments since the pandemic, according to the 2021 American Psychologically Association's COVID-19 Practitioner Survey. The survey also found that there was a skyrocketing increase in referrals for mental health services — from 37% in 2020 to 62% in 2021. Roughly 68% of psychologists had wait lists.

The University of Detroit Mercy College of Liberal Arts and Education is offering a hefty new scholarship to highlight the importance of psychology at the master's level. An information session will be held on Jan. 19 to discuss the new scholarship, which will provide funding for graduate students in the clinical psychology master's program for the fall 2023 semester, according to a news release.

The Ignite Scholarship for the clinical psychology master's program was created to help the growing need for mental health clinicians. Students in a three-year program that are working toward becoming master's-level psychological practitioners and express financial assistance are requested to apply.

“The master’s program in Clinical Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts & Education is proud to provide the Ignite Scholarship to financially support graduate students and help meet this pressing need in today’s society,” said Dean Jocelyn Boryczka in a written statement. "Providing this important investment in our graduate students means we have the chance to equip more professions with the academic training and hands-on skills they need to help people."

Kristen Abraham, associate professor and program director, called it an "incredible opportunity."

“University of Detroit Mercy’s Master of Arts program for Clinical Psychology combines academic rigor, small cohorts, individualized career planning and advising for a unique experience,” Abraham said in a statement “We are very enthusiastic about the new Detroit Mercy Ignite Scholarship.”

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Interested individuals should register for the virtual informational session, which runs from 6-7 p.m. Jan. 19.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: University of Detroit Mercy creates grad scholarship for psychology