Mental Health: The Struggles and Solutions We Must Address
Written on
Chapter 1: The Weight of Daily Struggles
For the past two months, I find myself in tears almost every day. The relentless abuse and harassment I face continue to take a toll on my well-being. This distress began about a year and a half ago and intensified after I was featured in an article in The New York Times discussing mental health issues.
Recently, I've turned to the 988 hotline more frequently and had to increase my antidepressant dosage. My mental state has deteriorated to the point where I sought impatient care at the end of 2022.
In my previous routine, I would publish 10 to 14 articles a week on Medium, all while balancing my personal and professional obligations. Now, I’m fortunate to manage five posts weekly, struggling to keep up with those same responsibilities.
Lately, I spend excessive time filtering through hurtful emails from strangers, dodging prank calls, and clearing out my voicemail, which is often filled with unwanted messages. I also fight the temptation to read comments about me or my work outside of Medium.
I could easily retreat from the public eye, take a standard 9-to-5 job, and start anew in a more peaceful life. So, why do I continue to revisit my past and put myself through this turmoil?
Many individuals worldwide refuse to advocate for mental health. Decision-makers often prefer to allocate resources toward areas with higher financial returns. Yet, the reality is that everyone grapples with mental health challenges at some point, which means mental health reform would benefit us all.
By enhancing mental health education and resources, we could become more emotionally aware and better equipped to address mental illness with empathy and effectiveness.
Currently, society can be incredibly harsh. I often wonder whether this cruelty stems from ignorance, personal struggles, or genuine malice.
Many individuals facing mental health issues do not receive the help they need, either because they lack knowledge about available resources or because treatment options do not meet their needs. The statistics reveal a glaring issue within our current system.
In today's climate, anger and political division are rampant. The government is supposed to serve the populace that elected its representatives. This duty remains unchanged regardless of the party in power.
The rise in deaths from mental health conditions is alarming, with suicide ranking as the 12th leading cause of death globally. In the United States, mental health disorders are the primary cause of disability for adults aged 18 to 44.
In 2022, nearly a third of Americans reported experiencing a mental health condition. Of these, around 27% indicated an unmet need for treatment, while approximately 5% had serious suicidal thoughts.
Mental health professionals are struggling to keep pace with the increasing demand for their services. According to a report by the National Institute of Mental Health, there are only four psychiatrists for every 100,000 Americans—a statistic that has not changed in decades. This shortage is even more pronounced in rural areas, where the ratio drops to just two psychiatrists per 100,000 residents. This disparity is striking. The insufficient number of mental health providers means that many individuals receive little to no treatment.
People living in poverty or experiencing homelessness often cannot access mental health services. Additionally, those from historically marginalized backgrounds are less likely to seek help due to systemic inequalities and stigmas. This leads to potentially millions of unreported cases of depression or anxiety. Furthermore, many individuals may hesitate to reach out for assistance from professionals who do not understand their cultural or religious backgrounds, fearing judgment rather than focusing on their symptoms. Mental health practitioners must receive training on how to effectively work with diverse populations to provide appropriate care in all settings.
Another critical area requiring training is the response of law enforcement. When police respond to a 911 call, they often encounter someone in a mental health crisis—not a counselor or therapist, nor even another officer. This situation can be overwhelming for police officers, who typically lack the training to handle such crises independently.
When it comes to treatment, mental health and substance use disorder services (the latter often exacerbated by the former) are not universally covered by health insurance plans. Some plans may only cover mental health after a deductible is met, while others may exclude it altogether. For instance, a plan might offer preventive care at no cost but require co-payments for other services, often leaving mental health and substance use issues without support. Even when coverage exists, there may be limits on the number of visits or medication refills allowed each year.
We must prioritize mental health and work to eliminate barriers that prevent access to necessary resources.
The journey ahead is long, but thankfully, I'm prepared with my comfortable sneakers.