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‘I Felt Like a Factory Worker.’ Why VA Psychologists Are Burning Out
By Leah Rosenbaum ·
The War Horse
· Thursday, February 12, 2026
· 1 min read
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The Department of Veterans Affairs is experiencing severe staffing shortages in its health care facilities. A recent survey found over 4,400 shortages, a 50% increase from the previous year. Psycholog
The Department of Veterans Affairs is experiencing severe staffing shortages in its health care facilities. A recent survey found over 4,400 shortages, a 50% increase from the previous year. Psychologists are among the most needed positions, having topped the list for clinical positions in 2024 and 2025, and remaining in the top five since 2019.
This is concerning given the importance of mental health care for veterans. Further details on the staffing shortages and their impact on veterans' care are available from the Department of Veterans Affairs' internal watchdog reports.
Originally reported by
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Our analysis The severe staffing shortages of psychologists at VA health care facilities have significant implications for the mental health and wellbeing of veterans. As the occupation with the most severe shortages, psychologists play a critical role in addressing the top priority of suicide prevention and veterans' mental health. The burnout and normalization of burnout among mental health providers, as described by Laura Grant, raises concerns about the quality of care and the ability of the VA to meet the growing demand for mental health services. The fact that the number of psychologists employed by the VA dropped for the first time in over a decade in fiscal year 2025, with a loss of over 200 psychologists, suggests a crisis point. With 57% of VA facilities reporting severe shortages, the VA's efforts to post hundreds of job openings for psychologists may be insufficient to address the scale of the problem, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to retaining and recruiting mental health professionals.
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