Mental health has always been something many people need help prioritizing. Sometimes, a push from a mental health professional can be the first step in the right direction. However, due to a shortage of mental health professionals, that guidance may be limited or hard to access for some Americans.
The job market naturally fluctuates, but the reason for the shortage of mental health professionals is due to the fact that nearly half of Americans will face a behavioral health issue at least once in their lifetime, whether it be via substance abuse or mental health struggles. The shortage is most prevalent in rural or economically struggling communities. According to The Commonwealth Fund in 2018, more than half of U.S. counties lacked a practicing psychiatrist. One study found that counties outside of metropolitan areas had one-third the supply of psychiatrists and half the supply of psychologists as their more urban counterparts.
Not only do supply barriers exist, but systemic barriers exist as well. There are three main systemic barriers: public, internalized, and structural. These are all things that could prevent people from seeking mental health support. A public systemic barrier may lead people with mental illnesses or substance abuse problems to believe that if they were to be diagnosed, it would lead to a loss of job opportunities, landlords may not rent to them, health care systems might regard them lower, etc. Internalized barriers cause mentally ill individuals to believe stereotypes society imposes onto them. This comes in the form of self-blame and leads to lower self-esteem and self-efficacy. Additionally, structural barriers come in the form of stereotypes in institutions and organizations, which make the individual believe that by getting help, they are losing opportunities that would otherwise be available for neurotypical individuals.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Media representations of people with mental illness can influence perceptions and stigma, and they have often been negative, inaccurate, or violent representations.” A prime example of this is the popular film “The Joker,” which portrays a mentally ill person who becomes more drastically violent, and a study found that it delayed those with mental health issues from being treated accordingly.
More literal physical barriers include Medicaid and Medicare. Sometimes, for people covered under Medicare or Medicaid insurance, it could be highly difficult to find a health care provider that is covered under their insurance. This could lead to individuals not seeking healthcare as soon as they needed due to the cost. According to The Commonwealth Fund, one study found that in Oregon, more than half of the mental health providers listed in network directories of Medicaid managed care plans did not actually see Medicaid enrollees.
According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the vast majority (83%) of the nation’s behavioral health workforce believes that without public policy changes, provider organizations won’t be able to meet the demand for mental health or substance use treatment and care.
If a mental health issue is not treated as soon as possible, it will degrade the afflicted individual even more and can lead to negative outcomes in the future. Delaying diagnosis only worsens the present condition, but due to the shortage of professionals, sometimes the individual has no choice but to wait.
The shortage of mental health professionals is affecting many individuals, whether it be via Medicare or Medicaid or through more societal systemic barriers. The mental health professionals shortage is something that needs to be thoroughly addressed for the well-being of everyone.
