Barriers to Seeking Help

People with some form of mental illness do not need to go untreated. Mental health help is available to those in both the public and private sectors of healthcare. For many, they do not know where to start looking for the assistance they need, nor do they have access to available resources. With the right information you can find treatment services to conquer your form of mental illness.

Stigma

• Some people who battle with mental illness are afraid of getting help because they are scared of the stigma associated with mental illness. Even though mental illness is a popular medical issue that society accepts and embraces, many individuals fear that they will become labeled with some of the stigmatic titles, such as "crazy," or that other repercussions will follow, such as being outcast from a community or made fun of at school. This fear serves as an internalized barrier to seeking treatment.

Cultural Barriers

• Some cultures do not believe in mental illness or seeking mental health treatment. Although an individual could need help, family members or others in the cultural community may stand in his way of receiving it. Part of this can be tied to the family's religion. Rather than taking the medical route, some cultures believe that prayer and worship is the solution for mental health ailments.

Resource Awareness

• Lack of resources serve as a barrier to individuals who need mental health treatment. Treatment options are there, but people who are unfamiliar with the mental health industry may have no idea where to start or what types of services to ask for. Without resource awareness, such as community advertisements and informational fairs, it becomes easy for people to feel lost and give up their attempts at seeking treatment.

Insurance

• Many people do not know that their insurance pays for mental health treatment, or that they can receive certain mental health services for free or under the federal Medicaid, Medicare or VA programs. The fear of having to pay out of pocket for expensive treatment and medication is a common barrier factor.

Location

• Where a person resides can be a barrier to seeking mental health help. Rural areas do not have as many mental health care options as large cities. Services may be limited or nonexistent, and the idea of having to travel to receive help is a deterrent. However, with President Obama's stimulus plan to increase the number of broadband health IT connections in rural parts of America, the use of telemedicine, or tele-psychiatry, can be employed with recipients of mental health services who reside in a remote location so that they can receive services out of their homes or offices.