Overcoming Barriers in Getting Mental Health Assistance

Overcoming Barriers in Getting Mental Health Assistance
By Stan Popovich

I struggled with fear and anxiety for over 20 years, and I am a huge advocate in getting professional help for your mental health. I always recommend that the first step in overcoming any mental health issues is talking to a mental health counselor.

Unfortunately, there are many barriers that I experienced to talking to others in getting that assistance all of us desperately need. As a result, here are just three of the most common obstacles that many people face in seeking help for their mental health.

Mental health counseling can get very expensive.
A one-hour session with a counselor can be around $100 without health insurance. Many people who struggle with mental health can’t afford health insurance and do not have the money to pay to see a counselor. I also talked to people who did have health insurance; however their health plan only covered one session a month or 12 sessions a year. Unfortunately, many people need more intense counseling than just one session a month.

Many low-cost mental health problems have waiting lists.
There are low-cost mental health programs available; however there are long waiting lines to get in. I personally tried to get into a mental health program at my local hospital. I tried getting in and I was told that there was a four-month waiting list. I called back after four months, and they told me I still had to wait. Unfortunately, I was never able to get into the program because there were too many people ahead of me.

Changes in counseling staff.
There were many times I had to change counselors due to staff changes which severely disrupted my progress and recovery. One time, I had a great mental health counselor for a year. Unfortunately, my counselor had to move to another state. Years later, I had another counselor, and she eventually changed careers. Counselors come and go, which can severely disrupt a person’s mental health recovery. Every time you get a new counselor, it takes many months for the counselor and patient to get to understand each other. When you change counselors, you have to start over in getting to know someone else. I found this very frustrating, and these staff changes hindered my progress.

What I did to get help in my own life.
There is no substitute for counseling; however I decided to make things a lot easier for myself to get the relief that I desperately needed while I encountered these obstacles.

As a result, here are seven options I used to get help as quickly as possible.

1.Contact your doctor: Your doctor is a great source in finding available mental health resources in your area. Explain your situation to your doctor and ask if he or she knows of anyone who can help you. Chances are your doctor will be able to give you some referrals.

2. Go to the nearest hospital: Your local hospitals can give you immediate assistance for your mental health issues when it’s an emergency. Once your situation is manageable, the people at the hospital will be able to give you options where you can continue treatment without having to wait. The people who work at a hospital know of other professionals in your area who can provide you with additional treatment.

3. Talk to the insurance companies: Your insurance company can provide a list of mental health services and other treatment programs that are covered in your health plan. If you do not have health insurance, you could still contact some of those companies and see if they can point you in the right direction regarding your current circumstances. There could be some affordable programs in your area that you do not know about.

4. Talk to the local churches: Your local churches may know of programs in your area that you could go to for help in overcoming your anxieties and stresses. Many churches offer mental health and addiction programs that anyone can take advantage of. A priest or clergy can also provide additional advice to your situation.

5. Find a support group: There are all kinds of mental health support groups that can help you with your issues. Go to a support group in your area and meet people who are also struggling with addiction and depression. A person can go on the internet or talk to some of the local mental health organizations to get more information about what is in their area.

6. Network with others: Many people have dealt with fear and anxiety sometime in their life. Talk to the people you trust to see if they have any suggestions on where you can go for some assistance. Make sure that your friends can keep things confidential and do not get into the habit of giving out too much personal information to others.

7. Contact your local mental health organizations: There are many private, public, nonprofit and governmental organizations that specialize in various mental health services that you can talk to for some assistance. The people at these places can give you some ideas on where you can find some mental health programs and counselors who can help you right away.

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear” www.managingfear.com