In this article I examine some of the many factors that are contributing to America’s mental health care crisis. Let’s cut to the root of why it’s so difficult to receive mental health treatment in the United States.
It’s no secret that the American health care system is riddled with flaws. While other developed countries, such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Australia, have all created some of the best health care systems in the world, the United States is sorely lacking when it comes to health care despite spending the most coin. Americans are facing a mental health care crisis, and it’s essential to understand how such a seemingly developed country could be leaving its citizens so sorely lacking.
The root of American health care failure boils down to a trio of problematic system errors, consisting of lack of insurance coverage, administration inefficiency, and an underperforming primary care system. With a staggering 44 million Americans uninsured, hoards of money wasted on administration issues such as billing and claims, and a fragmented, highly disorganized primary care system that is gravely under-resourced, it’s no surprise that millions of Americans can’t access the help they so desperately need. And when it comes to seeking mental health care access, something that roughly 3 in 4 Americans value as just as important as physical health care access, the reality is just as grim.
A study posted within the last 12 months revealed that the mental health crisis in America is directly tied to the lack of access to proper treatment. While issues such as societal and even medical stigmas and high demand for treatment can complicate receiving proper help, the root of the issue remains the utter inability to access care. With an estimated 56% of Americans (nearly 6 out of every 10 citizens) seeking or desiring mental health services for themselves or someone else, it’s alarming that more is not being done to meet these demands. And while social awareness regarding mental health continues to rise under the burgeoning socially aware climate, access to proper treatments remains an egregious failure.
Despite administrative changes such as the Affordable Care Act, seeking a beneficial treatment provider remains to be an unnecessarily complicated challenge. Coupled with high costs, lack of coverage, limited options, and lengthly waits, seeking help for mental health issues can be a nightmare in America. Not to mention, the number of psychiatrists in America has been lacking for decades. With rising medical school tuitions meaning crippling debt for the average student, and psychiatrists receiving one of the lowest paying salaries for medical specialties, it’s not surprising that many aren’t willing to put the time and education into the career field. Yet this issue remains to be just another piece of the larger picture, amounting to yet another reason why millions of Americans are left inadequately or even entirely untreated.
The risks of not treating mental illness might be more severe than anticipated. And just because mental health issues are unfortunately common does not mean that they shouldn’t be regarded as any less serious. Contrary to dated beliefs, mental illnesses are not “all in your head.” Leaving a mental illness untreated can manifest into chronic physical health problems and unexplained aliments. Not to mention, there is a large chance that without proper treatment, mental health issues will continue to steadily worsen. This not only immensely lowers quality of life, but raises the risk for self harm and suicide. In turn, untreated mental illnesses can lead to more cases of homelessness, poverty, job instability, incarceration, trauma, and death. Therefore, mental health care is an issue that all Americans should be concerned about, whether or not they or their loved ones are directly affected.
However, with an estimated 1 in 5 American youth likely to suffer from a severe mental disorder in their life, and a given 1 in 25 adults in the United States suffering from a serious mental illness in a given year (not even taking into account less serious suffering), it’s unlikely that your life is unaffected by mental illness. While administrative changes clearly need to be implemented to reverse the current failure of operation, we can make a difference in American health care by working to continue breaking down stigmas and raising awareness. Though serious mental illness requires professional treatment, creating support systems and open dialogue amongst ourselves can help sustain health in times of crisis. But the reality is unavoidable: something has to be done to change our health care system.
Are you suffering from a mental illness and need treatment? Check out this article about your treatment options during a crisis. Don’t ever suffer in silence. National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255