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In this technologically forward world, online counseling degrees Masters, psychology degrees and other mental health qualifications are available to more people than ever before. What’s more, the discussion around mental illness has opened up new avenues of research for professionals and freedom of expression for those suffering from mental health conditions. Why do so many myths and stigmas persist when people have learned so much?

 Despite the wealth of knowledge accumulated, persistent myths and stigmas continue to prevail, prompting the question of why these misconceptions persist despite people’s increased understanding.

Reinventing a culture and its opinions poses a considerable challenge, especially considering the slow and laborious nature of education. With information only emerging in recent decades, widespread common knowledge on mental health is not anticipated for quite some time.

One of the primary challenges lies in the barriers to entry faced by individuals with mental illnesses seeking help, compounded by the inherent difficulty in finding effective assistance. These barriers often remain invisible until one decides to seek treatment or therapy, proving particularly burdensome for those already grappling with mental illnesses like depression or bipolar disorder.

Defining Mental Illness and Mental Health Care

Mental illnesses, also referred to as mental disorders, impact the cognitive functions of an individual’s brain, including thinking, feeling, mood, and behavior. Contrary to misconceptions, mental illness is not something concocted by individuals; rather, it is a psychological condition that can be quantified, recognized, and treated. Mental illnesses, akin to any pain, can manifest as chronic or acute. For instance, feeling depressed after the loss of a loved one is considered a normal response, but the absence of joy even in favorable circumstances signifies Depressive Disorder—a neurological incapacity to experience happiness, distinct from merely “being sad.”

Various mental illnesses exist, with stress, a universal experience, serving as a major cause of mental discomfort and illness. Prolonged exposure to stress can produce symptoms akin to PTSD.

Mental healthcare, as a branch of medical science, is dedicated to diagnosing and treating individuals with mental illnesses, often involving a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, and therapy.

Barriers To Mental Health Care Access

Currently, America is undergoing what professionals are labeling a mental health crisis. Despite record numbers of people going to therapy, the number of people talking about their mental health in a positive light is decreasing, while diagnoses of conditions like depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar are on the rise. It is believed this is due to several conditions and pressures of modern life in America, people are experiencing completely normal rational feelings that then become chronic and detrimental to a patient’s quality of life.

There is also the fact that since the conversation around mental illness has become so much more open recently, it’s not so much a case of more people being diagnosed, it is merely that the diagnoses are more visible because our society has grown to a more accepting place. However, if therapy and treatment are at an all-time high, and our society has become more tolerant of those with mental illness; how bad can the barriers to entry in mental health care be?

The answer: they can be pretty bad. Seeing a mental health professional isn’t like seeing a GP. It can take months of waiting and inaction to finally see a therapist, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic’s grip left many in a state of mental agitation. This period of stagnation can in itself be considered a barrier, as many people suffering from mental illnesses struggle with motivation and the ability to follow through with challenging plans; the lengthy wait forces a person to stew in their fears and insecurities for a long time and gives them ample opportunity to back out.

What Needs To Be Done

There are several ways that the Federal administration could go about making mental health care access more viable for Americans across the country. Mental health insurance policies need to be updated so that those with the benefit of insurance can access the specified care and therapies they require, periodic ongoing screenings especially in children need to be leveraged, and mental health services need to be offered in schools and colleges, as well as workplaces.

These however would be but a drop in the ocean. The truth is that addressing mental health starts at a communal level. Introducing the concept of mental illness to kids as early as possible would be a beneficial practice, helping to de-stigmatize mental illness, and trauma, as well as fostering a deeper emotional and intellectual connection and awareness as they grow up. 

The education system is the first line of defense against the burgeoning mental health crisis facing the nation. After that, several elements of the society need to be addressed. Several major causes of mental illness or significant ongoing mental distress include homelessness, poverty, and unemployment. This suggests the country’s economic practices require rearranging to become a truly prosperous nation for those who face a daily struggle just trying to live life.

It is easy to see this suffering and to separate yourself from it. To think “No, this can’t possibly happen in my country. My country serves me well.” and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to defend what you love, especially if it’s done right by you. However, love doesn’t work like that. When you truly love something or someone you do your utmost to help them overcome the things that stop them from being their best selves. To this end, everyone has to recognize that, just like every country, the nation has problems. The USA has problems, and many of them stem from the people’s unwillingness to shift from how things are done. If everyone is brave, recognizes the problems that exist, and commits the energy and time to revising them, there is nothing the nation can’t do. As it is, however, America seems headed towards a collective nervous breakdown.

Published by: Aly Cinco