Close the salary gap in mental health system
Nowhere is John Edwards' "Two Americas" more evident than in our mental health system. The wage gap between mental health workers and administrators is disheartening.
Workers providing hands-on care typically receive a starting wage of $9. At 2,200 hours per year, that is less than $20,000. Of course, no client is allowed 2,200 hours of services. To survive, a professional caregiver must handle six clients concurrently. This dilutes the worker's familiarity with the patient and speeds worker burnout.
Guilford County's mental health director receives $154,271 in annual salary. That director, Billie Martin-Pierce, has described her job as "triage." She provides few services; rather, she directs those in need to outside organizations and charities — where workers receiving a $9 wage administer to the mentally disabled. Money does not create incentive, but our society measures an individual's value by her salary. If we pay less than a living wage, doesn't it suggest the work is not important?
Furthermore, if we don't value the services, why value the administration of that service? Surely, Director Martin-Pierce doesn't pretend to supervise the county's psychiatrists.
Why not use her salary to provide 17,141 hours of actual services — or better, pay a living wage for competent and interested hands-on mental health professionals?
Don Ward
Stokesdale
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