“but people are being treated now under our current system and they aren’t finding a severe shortage.”
That depends on what kind of care you need. Try and find a child & adolescent psychiatrist to take care of your kid, and you’ll find out that it isn’t easy. I should know, as it’s a field I’m strongly considering and we have a child with ADD and some anxiety issues.
The nearest one to Eau Claire, Wisconsin? Try 2 hours away in the Twin Cities with a 5-month wait. There are a mere 15 psychiastrists in all of Wyoming. If you’ve got a kid there with psychiatric needs, I guess you pretty much have to hope you find someone in Spokane or Denver.