Barriers to mental healthcare are getting more prominent as the nation witnesses increased mental health disorders. More than half of the individuals suffering from mental health issues are not receiving any form of treatment, and many are still unaware of the complexities of their illness.
As per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one out of every twenty Americans lives with varying degrees of mental illness, from mild depression to more severe disorders like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The number of people needing mental health services is increasing. Still, there is a scarcity of mental healthcare providers creating mental health deserts in many parts of the nation.
The lack of mental health services is one of the reasons the United States consistently has a lower ranking than other developed nations when it comes to overall healthcare.
Mental Health Deserts
A mental health desert refers to any space where access to mental healthcare professionals, resources, facilities, and treatment is deficient. These spaces create a massive gap between individuals seeking mental health services and the availability of facilities to treat their conditions.
Despite being a wealthy nation, the United States of America is home to multiple mental health deserts. The Health Resources and Service Administration report states that over 149 million Americans reside in federally designated areas with a deficit of mental health professionals.
- Seventy percent of the counties in the country have an absence of child psychiatrists.
- Over 2.5 million of the American youth population suffer from severe depression
- less than half of American youth have access to mental healthcare facilities.
- Over 27 million adults residing in the United States are going through some form of mental illness that remains untreated.
Scarcity of Mental Healthcare
Mental healthcare is not easily accessible in the United States, even in some metropolitan areas. The scarcity of mental healthcare stops individuals from utilizing their talents and affects their ability to contribute and function in society. The inability to receive mental health services leads to more physical ailments and social disfunction.
A better mental healthcare model could improve the quality of life of an individual and decrease suicide rates. It could reduce family conflicts, legal issues, substance abuse, and employment difficulties.
The solution sounds simple, create a more robust and dispersed mental healthcare system. But this is a more complex problem than hiring a few more social workers and psychologists.
Financial Restrictions
The Affordable Care Act requires most health insurance plans to cover mental healthcare and prohibits annual or lifetime limits on that care. High-quality mental healthcare can be expensive, especially for those without insurance or those who have high out-of-pocket limits.
Whether an individual’s diagnosis requires regular outpatient therapy or an intensive inpatient treatment program, the out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles and copays, can quickly add up to a large bill. The lack of financial resources prevents many individuals from seeking the help they need.
Many rural areas and counties do not have the finances to offer free or reduced-cost mental health services. Those living in these areas usually don’t have the funds to pay for mental health care, even if they have health insurance.
There are additional economic costs to depression and anxiety. According to the World Health Organization, $1 trillion worth of yearly productivity is lost globally to just these two mental health disorders.
Lower Investment in the Sector
While the ACA permitted more people to get health insurance and, in turn, more of them to see doctors and medical professionals of all types, we have failed to invest in the much-needed increase in healthcare professionals and facilities. America does not have enough doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals. The pandemic has only worsened this problem as many healthcare professionals experience their own mental health issues.
Only a tiny proportion of what we have invested in healthcare has been directed toward mental health. The lack of financing causes budget cuts in clinical trial programs, pharmaceutical research, and spending on new therapy and rehabilitation facilities.
Lack of Mental Health Awareness
Creating a solid mental healthcare model requires an environment where individuals are aware of their needs. Unfortunately, the stigma around mental health and lack of education about its importance are reasons for the shortage of mental healthcare facilities. People readily head to clinics and demand healthcare for physical injuries and other ailments, but they are reluctant to do so when it comes to their mental health.
Individuals are often afraid that friends and family will dismiss their symptoms of clinical anxiety as worrying too much or just mood swings and that their depression will be labeled as laziness or fatigue.
In many ways, it is a double-edged sword. People don’t seek treatment because they are afraid of the stigma attached to mental illness. There is a stigma attached to mental illness because we don’t prioritize its treatment through funding which means less infrastructure and fewer mental health professionals.
However, states like Texas are working to overcome these issues through multiple concurrently running plans.
Texas – Reducing Mental Health Deserts
While the healthcare industry faces an overall shortage of professionals, many rural areas have no mental healthcare providers, let alone specialized care facilities. To fill this gap, states like Texas are contributing to the cause by investing in creating an active mental healthcare infrastructure. Many private companies are also stepping up and investing in the sector. For example, Geode Health, a private equity group, has already launched its first practice in Round Rock and plans to cover multiple locations across Texas within the year.
Texas is one of the states taking decisive actions against the lack of mental healthcare facilities for its citizens. The state runs a multi-dimensional strategy to tackle the issue from all sides.
One step that Texas has taken is the introduction of mental health facilities in primary and secondary schools. This initiative includes training teachers and staff in dealing with children and young adults facing mental health issues.
Texas Health and Human Service Commission dedicated the month of May to celebrate mental health awareness. They organize seminars, talks, and contests to encourage residents to attend events and educate them about mental health and available resources.
Texas is laying the ground for the country’s largest academic psychiatric hospital to promote research, training, and healthcare services in the mental health sector. This initiative will benefit individuals suffering from mental health disorders and provide more employment opportunities. They are also holding clinical trials for medicines and treatments for mental health patients.
Texas is taking steps to eliminate the existence of mental health deserts within their state with strategic planning to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and find ways to expand access to mental health services. Texas may be setting an example for other states to follow in eliminating their mental healthcare deserts.
