Affordable Counseling
People often say if you need mental health support just get it. Those who are more likely to utter those words have no problems accessing and affording mental health treatment. Their privilege and access blinds them to the realities of others. I know that it is not that simple. People do not realize how difficult it is to access mental health treatment without insurance and money. My experience as a counselor has opened my eyes to the faults within the system. Some individuals cannot get help because they simply do not have the means. Financial instability continues to be the elephant in the room as it pertains to mental health treatment.
A lot of individuals seem to think that some people do not seek out mental health treatment because they do not want it. This is a false narrative. Can one truly understand the disparity in mental health if he or she does not share the everyday struggles? The answer is no. Is Counseling affordable? Yes, counseling is affordable for those who have good healthcare and good finances. Unfortunately, for those who do not have either, is continues to be a daily struggle.
As a counselor thirty percent of my work has been Pro Bono, and I continue to provide counseling for those in need without any financial gain. The reason being is that many of the people that come to me cannot afford mental health care. I do not have the heart to turn people away, especially seeing how much they are suffering. Some individuals have insurance, and they still cannot not afford counseling. For most people it is not a choice, it is simply their reality. Two of the most common issues that people face in counselling on a consistent basis are high Copay and high deductibles.
Some people cannot afford a Copay and some simply have no money after they pay their monthly bills. I come across many individuals who work low paying jobs and cannot afford their deductibles. Individuals with better income do not struggle to meet their deductible as well as their Co-pay. A Copay of $25 or $50 is very high for someone who is working a minimum wage job. Can one really afford a deductible of 2,000 or $3,000 working a minimum wage job? The answer is no. Survival takes precedence over mental health.
One has to meet whatever deductible that is in place without having to pay out of pocket, if not they cannot receive service from any health care professional. If by some miracle they have met their deductible, they cannot afford the Co-pays. It is very difficult to see an individual with health care insurance and a full-time job that cannot afford to see any healthcare professional. It is a recurring problem in counseling over and over again. The misconception is that these are lazy uneducated individuals. These are people who wake up and go to work five to six days a week.
There are community mental health facilities that provide services free of charge. I would not say they are an abundance. These facilities are often over-saturated with patients. The counselors in these facilities are often underpaid and burn out. Their wages are even lower than most counselors. It takes months to get into a free mental health facility. These facilities do not have the space to see everyone and anyone that comes in. This is why they have a waiting list in place. These facilities also see many homeless individual that walk in from the streets. I have had homeless individuals tell me if they check themselves into a mental health facility, they will have shelter for a couple of days.
I often ask myself how can I continue to make a difference with people who truly need the help? I am not a nonprofit. I do not have a mountain of financial support or wealth. What do I have is an enormous amount of student loans. The need for mental health is growing even more post pandemic. Now, more than ever there is a need for counselors. Mental health is real and it is a medical condition.
One question remains, is there a solution to the mental health crisis? Will the individuals who can change the mental health crisis ever step up?
“Being able to be your true self is one of the strongest components of good mental health.” Dr. Lauren Fogel Mersy
Thank you to those who choose to follow me. Thank you for your support. Let us continue to read and clap for one another. Be grateful for yourself.
