Top Problem in the Mental Health Field: Resource Access

As Adam Ant quotes, “Mental health needs a great deal of attention. It is the final taboo, and it needs to be dealt with.” Mental health is essential. How we perceive the world through our inner dialog contributes a lot to how we show up in the world. There is currently a worldwide mental health crisis. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, “22.8% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2021 (57.8 million people). This represents 1 in 5 adults” (NAMI, 2023). Many individuals do not know where or how to reach out for help because resources and information are limited. NAMI additionally states, “25+ Million rural Americans live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, where there are too few providers to meet demand” (NAMI, 2023). While doing research and asking fellow peers what they believe to be the biggest challenges in the mental health field, a lack of resources was the answer for the majority of the participants selected.

Lack of Resources

While surveying top mental health problems within the field, it was noticed that a lack of resources was the top choice selected. However, the problem is not a lack of resources; it is a lack of awareness of the resources available and limited access to them. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (2023):

“Access To Treatment Is Severely Limited

Among U.S adults in nonmetropolitan areas, 2020:

48% with a mental illness received treatment

62% with a severe mental illness received treatment

Compared to suburban and urban residents, rural Americans:

Must travel 2x as far to their nearest hospital

Are 2x as likely to lack broadband internet, limiting access to telehealth

25+ Million rural Americans live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, where there are too few providers to meet demand.”

People who live in rural areas are unable to access treatment and are at a disadvantage when it comes to access to resources. I created a small survey, and many students reached out with many ideas for ways we can start helping residents in rural areas gain better access to resources. Here are some of their responses. By coming together and trying to find ways to help those in need, we can start building better solutions together.

Voices of some of the Students at Ivy Tech and The Caring Place

“By placing more therapy offices in areas where people need them and by speaking up for mental health and the people that need it.”
“Via pamphlets, apps, websites, or personal advocates.”
“Maybe we need to create a system for Psychologists/Psychiatrists to do so many volunteer hours on an online portal/App. Or they can do therapy pro-bono like an attorney would.”
“Broaden the location of these resources and make them more accessible in areas that have bus routes.”
“Starting with the youth.”
“Free government-provided healthcare.”
“Mail printed papers.”
“I don’t necessarily think of people who “don’t have resources,” but the working class that makes too much to get help but not enough to help themselves.”
“I have lived in rural communities for the majority of my life, and I know from experience that the county health department is a medical lifeline for risk communities. We start by adding/expanding mental health services provided at/by the local health departments. Often, resources are available but not accessible due to transportation issues. To relieve this issue, we should have a service that transports patients or brings professionals to the patients.”
“When the services are asked for and popularized as casual and normal services, corporate leaders will see the need to support the cause and help the underprivileged.”
“That would take a shift in our priorities on a societal level and ground-level involvement. Sometimes, the solutions pay for themselves due to savings in long-term costs, and other times, resources need to be redirected back to those who have been disadvantaged. We need a stronger focus on treatment vs. punishment of addiction because jail doesn’t rehabilitate.”
“I know it’s a bit more challenging to go this way, but honestly, having a pause/break period in most classes/jobs (this can even be for about 5-7 mins) and talking about the resources that the place has. For schools, it’d be more of a pause in between classes or a meeting in the gym with all students where a mental health provider could talk about the resources the school may offer or can help with. In a workplace, it would be more of a company-wide meeting where employees can take a brief moment to talk about their mental health resources or benefits within a company. After people/students are aware of the resources specific locations have, they can reach out and go from there. We are very short on mental health providers everywhere, but if we could get just one employee in most places to go and talk about resources there are around, we could get people more resources to people who do not have access to them.”
“Offer mental health classes. Someone can teach in places where it is almost impossible.”
“A significant resource to those in rural areas, homebound, etc., can significantly benefit from the continuation of telehealth services for mental health counseling or doctors’ appointments with psychologists or psychiatrists. The trickiest part of telehealth is that some insurance does not cover it, unfortunately. This is more of a vast idea, but creating programs for free counseling could exponentially help those who are homeless, in financial distress, or who do not know where to turn to for their mental health. Another idea could be a program that sends out free mental health tips, advice, and resources to individuals through e-mail, text messages, or an app.”
“It depends on the recourse we’re giving and how much money it costs to obtain a multitude of it. If it’s pamphlets, then simply set up a booth or table to hand them out. If it’s services, then reaching out to others and asking them what they need that day.”
“Virtual providers would be helpful, but low-cost internet should be an option for those who do not have the internet or transportation to a place that offers it for free. Also, providers who offer help to specific groups, like the homeless or low-income, should be able to go to the person rather than the person going into the office.”
“Funding for outreach initiatives targeting underserved communities and populations within larger communities.”
“A lot of it is getting access to more affordable mental healthcare and spreading awareness of free resources. Crisis lines don’t require you to be suicidal, for example. That wasn’t something I knew about until I was already in therapy. myStrength is a website that provides a lot of helpful information related to mental health, and it’s free. Again, I didn’t know about it until I was already receiving help. If someone has barriers to getting help in the first place, they’re unlikely to find out about those other resources. And information online doesn’t feel reliable.”
“If someone does not have access, public libraries often offer internet access as well as resources on hard copies. Calling a hotline or maybe seeing if a community member could help them.”
Definitely not with any form of technological implants, such as Neuralink.
“Don’t make people pay huge amounts of money or put a time limit on things that help with mental health and getting better. There are rehabs, homes, and things used to help others, but the government only gives them a month to recover or get on their feet, and you have to pay. The workers aren’t even able to help to their full ability because the government limits what they say if they want insurance to cover it.”
“Contact a place that has the means to help with this project.”
“I wish I had a good answer for this one.”
“Accessibility- Meet the patient where they are today.”
“Advocate for better healthcare laws that could change the whole structure of healthcare as we know it.”
“More money into mental healthcare, so there are more resources. Focus on ending the stigma of mental health because there is still a huge negative correlation with mental health.”

There is a need to focus on getting the resources available to people with limited access to things such as the internet and who live in rural areas, as well as bringing more awareness to resources. One of the ideas I have proposed is making a program that pings everyone’s phones every month to see what types of resources are available in each community. We are in the middle of a mental health crisis and need a way to get people the help they need. How can we help individuals if they do not know of the resources available to them? This idea would help spread more awareness. For individuals who do not have phone access, we can utilize the newspaper and add the resources there. Additionally, pamphlets should be placed in areas such as food stamp offices, hospitals, social security offices, and grocery stores—or digital boards to cut down on costs.

What are some ways you think we can improve the mental health field and get more resources to people in need?

Resources

Mental health by the numbers. NAMI. (n.d.-b). https://www.nami.org/mhstats

Motivational Coping & Healing