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Development of the McLean Hospital MENTOR Program to enhance mental health career pathways

Neuropsychopharmacology volume 50, pages 1197–1199 (2025)Cite this article

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The mental health workforce does not currently represent the demographics of the general population [1, 2]. For example, only 5.5% of psychologists identify as Black, compared to 13.7% in the general US population (https://www.apa.org/workforce/data-tools/demographics). Disparities in representation are associated with worse treatment access and engagement, health outcomes, and research participation for minoritized people, see [3]. Moreover, a diverse workforce leads to more innovation and better outcomes for all, e.g., [4]. One barrier to representation is a lack of access to professional mentors during the critical career exploration period during undergraduate education. Quality mentorship has a sustained effect on mechanisms (e.g., science identity) underlying career pathway persistence [1].

In 2022, we developed the Mentor Empower Network to Optimize Representation (MENTOR) Program to improve representation in the mental health field. As the primary psychiatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School with faculty representing various disciplines (i.e., clinical psychology, social work, mental health counseling, psychiatry, neuropsychology/neuroscience, nursing), McLean Hospital is ideally positioned to partner with local undergraduate institutions to offer mentorship opportunities. The goal of MENTOR is to provide crucial connections between underrepresented undergraduates and professionals in mental health services and research careers. These connections are vital for undergraduates considering such careers, but who may not have anyone in their networks to ask field-specific questions and receive guidance. We iteratively developed MENTOR based on feedback from mentees, mentors, and university partners, and describe here the current program structure for our 3rd cohort of students participating in 2025.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the students and McLean Hospital staff, and faculty who participated in the MENTOR program and shared their feedback through discussions and program evaluation surveys. We thank Diane Bell, Alexandra Adams, and Marquis Taylor, who contributed to the development and refinement of the MENTOR program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA

    Courtney Beard, Michaela B. Swee, Zelda McGhee & Kerry Ressler

  2. Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA, USA

    Fran Barth

  3. Framingham State University, Framingham, MA, USA

    Kimberly Arditte Hall & Nicole Rossi

  4. Mass General Brigham Behavioral and Mental Health, Belmont, MA, USA

    Catharyn Gildesgame

Authors
  1. Courtney Beard
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  2. Michaela B. Swee
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  4. Fran Barth
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  5. Kimberly Arditte Hall
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  6. Nicole Rossi
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  7. Catharyn Gildesgame
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  8. Kerry Ressler
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the conception and design of this work. Dr Beard and Dr Swee acquired and interpreted the data. Dr Beard drafted the manuscript, and all authors approved the final version of the manuscript. Dr Beard agrees to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

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Correspondence to Courtney Beard.

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Beard, C., Swee, M.B., McGhee, Z. et al. Development of the McLean Hospital MENTOR Program to enhance mental health career pathways. Neuropsychopharmacol. 50, 1197–1199 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-025-02118-y

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