BANGOR, Maine — It's a sobering statistic about the growing need for mental health care in Maine.
State health experts said in the past five years, the number of psychiatrists has dropped by nearly half, from roughly 200 to around 100 today.
Another concern is that several psychiatrists are a few years away from retirement.
To help address the decreasing number of providers, Northern Light Acadia Hospital is starting a psychiatric residency program next year. This would be the second psychiatric residency program in Maine—a general psychiatry residency program is offered at Maine Medical Center.
The new program has drawn several hundred applicants.
Dr. Nadia Mendiola had just finished her residency in psychiatry in Texas when she and her husband ended up in Maine, on vacation, after a trip to Ireland was canceled at the last minute.
"Everyone we met was super friendly, we loved the climate, and there was so much to do outside," Mendiola enthused.
The native Texan now calls Bangor home and works as a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Northern Light Acadia Hospital.
Acadia is taking a big step towards building a new generation of psychiatrists like Mendiola.
The private hospital is starting a Psychiatric Residency program in 2024. The program will help fill the decreasing number of practicing psychiatrists in Maine who have retired or will be leaving the profession in a few years.
"There has been growth and demand for our services, and we had to do something; we have spent so much time recruiting," Dr. John Campbell, a senior physician executive at Northern Light Acadia Hospital, said.
Campbell said more than 500 applicants have applied for four residency spots. The program also plans to offer fellowships or training programs in pediatric and geriatric psychology—a massive area of need.
Kids in crisis continue to be stuck in local emergency rooms because of the lack of providers and treatment beds. Campbell explained how important it is to "get to them in the early phases of the illness before it gets too severe."
"We have had trouble at either end of that and people end up in the emergency room," he added.
The hospital is banking on its new $50 million expansion as a powerful recruiting tool to retain the newly minted psychiatrists.
Acadia's new pediatric inpatient wing with 50 private rooms, therapy areas, and more extensive and secure nursing stations was unveiled last month.
"We will also have the newest inpatient child psychiatry unit in the nation. I mean, the investment speaks for itself," Mendiola said.
Mendiola is hopeful the teaching hospitals' training and a team dedicated to providing the best care for the state's most vulnerable patients will also be a big selling point.
"There is a good strong likelihood we will be able to recruit at least half of our class to stay in Maine," Mendiola added.
More than 100 of the applicants have been invited for interviews. Next March, fourth-year medical students find out where they have been matched for residency, and will begin their residency at Acadia in July. The 4-year program is expected to graduate 16 new psychiatrists in 2028.