Many people in the United States are affected by mental illness. In fact, one in five Americans experience some sort of mental health issue. Despite that, mental health care across the country remains difficult to access, which may have negative consequences.
Receiving treatment for mental health is expensive- even more so than physical health. For those without health insurance, a typical hour-long therapy session can cost between $65 and $250. Even with insurance, people may still have to pay $50 or more per therapy session.
More severe diagnoses carry even worse burdens. For major depression, patients may spend almost $11,000 each year on treatment costs. Meanwhile, a patient with diabetes may only have to pay $4,500 dollars each year.
Apart from the cost of treatment, mental health clinics are more common in urban areas, making it more difficult for people in rural areas to access care. In fact, about 112 million Americans live in areas where access to mental health providers is limited. This leads to more people having undiagnosed, and therefore untreated, mental illnesses, which can be harmful to the person’s overall health.
Another reason people don’t seek treatment for mental health is the stigma surrounding it. People tend to avoid talking about mental illness because there is a lack of understanding around it. This leads to some people having negative beliefs toward it.
With a lack of mental health care comes dire effects. Those with a mental illness are more prone to substance abuse. Substance abuse may worsen the symptoms of mental illnesses and cause paranoia, aggression and other problems.
In addition, untreated mental health conditions can increase social isolation and problems interacting with other people. Social isolation may reduce sleep quality and impair executive function and immunity. In general, social isolation can lead to unhealthy habits such as poor eating habits, use of drugs and lack of exercise, which lead to various physical health conditions.
Since mental and physical health are related, untreated mental health issues can also increase the risk of certain health issues such as a weakened immune system, heart disease and other medical conditions.
Though mental health does not directly cause suicide, having a mental health condition such as depression or borderline personality disorder may increase the risk of suicide. As of 2020, suicide is the twelfth leading cause of death in the country overall, with the most common age range for completed suicides being 15 to 24. This is also the age range when people are most diagnosed with mental health issues.
Some of the signs that someone might have a mental health issue include a reduced ability to concentrate, excessive feelings of guilt, mood swings, social isolation and changes in eating and sleeping habits. One might also withdraw from activities that they would usually enjoy doing.
To increase accessibility to mental health care and decrease negative outcomes of untreated mental illnesses, there should be more mental health clinics, especially in places where treatment is limited.
If you are a University of Idaho student, the Counseling and Testing Center is free to utilize. They also have a 24-hour crisis line at 208-885-6716 and press 3. If you are not a UI student, you can dial 988 to contact the suicide hotline.
Vanessa Werner can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @VanessaRWerner
Harold A Maio
A common error: Another reason people don’t seek treatment for mental health is the stigma surrounding it. People do not seek help because of those taught and teaching it carries a stigma. It is a lesson we are apparently unwilling to give up. Never is it the stigma, always it is those directing it. Harold A Maio