While it’s common to feel overwhelmed when juggling a busy work schedule, for many, dealing with such challenges can feel like a debilitating struggle. The reality is that many people today are experiencing increased symptoms of mental illness, and for the first time in their lives. Fortunately, mental health care access can improve their lives by helping them treat and cope with their symptoms. However, high costs and associated stigmas create barriers to such access, keeping many from seeking help. Here are some of the ways mental health care access can benefit not just individuals, but society as a whole.
Benefits of Mental Health Care Access
Access to quality mental health care can benefit everyone by providing:
- Early Treatment of Symptoms
The struggle to treat poor mental health is often a lifelong battle. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), on average, people wait 11 years after they first experience symptoms of a mental illness to get help, leading to an increased severity of symptoms and a significantly reduced mental well-being. Instead of suffering in silence, mental health care access allows individuals to acknowledge their mental health struggles sooner, understand their symptoms and develop strategies to overcome them.
- Community-wide Wellness
Poor mental health can take a serious toll on your physical health. By receiving mental health care, communities can improve the overall health of their members, leading to more individuals contributing into society. After all, a healthier community has a higher likelihood of productivity, security and overall happiness. Communities with access to local mental health care also help their members feel less stigmatized and more secure in their surroundings by providing them with the peace of mind that both they, and others, can quickly receive help if they experience a sudden decline in their mental health.
- Increased Productivity and Growth
The same NAMI study also shows that serious mental illnesses account for an annual loss of $193.2 billion in earnings to the United States economy. Furthermore, $1 trillion in worldwide productivity is lost each year due to depression and anxiety disorders alone. Such losses impact nearly every individual. Treating mental illnesses early prevents them from severely impacting an individual’s daily function. This means more people can contribute at work, helping to make their local economy strong. It also allows for more long-term financial stability, a factor that can greatly impact your overall mental health and the onset of mental illness symptoms.
- Decreased Personal Health Care Costs
It’s no secret that one of the biggest barriers to mental health care is its cost. Due to the costs of mental health care services, less than half of American adults receive treatment. Insurance itself can be a barrier to receiving adequate care, as treatment can be expensive without it. Unfortunately, as an individual’s mental health declines, their risk of needing high-cost hospitalization down-the-line increases as mental illness can also produce physical symptoms that require expensive treatment. Access to preventative mental health care can save money over time by treating symptoms before they become too costly and severe.
Get Access to Mental Health Care with Counseling on Us
At Counseling on Us, we believe equitable access to quality mental health care is a human right that can truly change a person’s life. Our goal is to help people of limited economic means connect with trained and licensed mental health professionals in the state of Florida who can address their mental health challenges. Contact Counseling on Us today to begin your journey toward improved mental health.