Why is it so hard to get mental health treatment?
Asked by: Prof. Janet Bartell | Last update: August 10, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (69 votes)
Why is mental health treatment so hard to get?
The mental healthcare system is very outdated and long wait times are the norm. It's a combination of provider shortages and just a lack of players in the market. There are no national outpatient mental healthcare providers and investment in the industry has been minimal (largely due to historic preconceptions).
Why is there a shortage of mental health services?
People are unable to access or afford mental health services. Counselors are overwhelmed with high caseloads, and many are leaving the field in search of better pay and work-life balance. And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic, which has only amplified the mental health crisis and provider shortage.
How to get someone mental help when they refuse?
However, if you believe that your loved one may be a danger to himself or to others because of a mental condition, in California, for example, you may want to consider a 5150 hold. A 5150 hold refers to Section 5150 of the California Welfare Institutions Code.
What is the hardest mental health to treat?
Personality disorders are some of the most difficult disorders to treat in psychiatry. This is mainly because people with personality disorders don't think their behavior is problematic, so they don't often seek treatment.
Why It’s So Hard To Get Mental Health Care | Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj | Netflix
What is the most painful mental illness to deal with?
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has long been believed to be a disorder that produces the most intense emotional pain and distress in those who have this condition. Studies have shown that borderline patients experience chronic and significant emotional suffering and mental agony.
What does a BPD meltdown look like?
BPD Meltdown
These episodes involve intense emotional reactions that can be triggered by stress, rejection, or perceived abandonment. During a meltdown, people may experience extreme mood swings, impulsivity, and difficulty calming down.
Can you force an adult to get mental health treatment?
A person may be involuntarily detained on a 5150 hold in California only if there's probable cause to believe that they are a danger to themselves or others or gravely disabled as a result of a mental health disorder. The purpose of the hold is to get a psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
What is the first stage of a mental breakdown?
The five stages of a mental breakdown include: The honeymoon phase – The first stage of a nervous breakdown is referred to as the “honeymoon” stage and is particularly noticeable when undertaking new work responsibilities or initiatives. There are no warning signs of a nervous breakdown at this time.
How to tell if someone is mentally unstable?
- Feeling sad or down.
- Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate.
- Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt.
- Extreme mood changes of highs and lows.
- Withdrawal from friends and activities.
- Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping.
What type of therapy is most in demand?
According to research, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard in therapy treatment. It's the most well-researched type of psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) and a highly sought-after modality due to its efficacy in addressing various mental health conditions.
What is the average caseload for a mental health therapist?
Discussions among therapists on Reddit reveal that most agree a typical full-time caseload falls between 20 and 30 clients per week. However, some therapists handle more intensive schedules, seeing upwards of 25 to 30 clients in a four-day workweek or even up to 43 clients weekly in extreme cases.
Why isn't mental health covered by insurance?
The parity law does not require insurers to provide mental health benefits—rather, the law states that if mental health benefits are offered, they can't have more restrictive requirements than those that apply to physical health benefits.
What is the most overlooked mental illness?
Antisocial Personality Disorder: Often Overlooked and Untreated. Antisocial personality disorder may be one of the most misunderstood mental disorders. It is also often undiagnosed and untreated, according to a recent special report by Donald Black, M.D. in Psychiatric News.
Why are mental health services so inaccessible?
Globally, the majority of those who need mental health care worldwide lack access to high-quality mental health services. Stigma, human resource shortages, fragmented service delivery models, and lack of research capacity for implementation and policy change contribute to the current mental health treatment gap.
Why is therapy so hard to get?
Limited Availability. In many regions, there is a shortage of mental health professionals. This scarcity is more pronounced in rural or underprivileged areas. Even in urban centers, high demand can lead to long waiting lists, making immediate access to therapy difficult.
What is the first red flag of bipolar disorder?
Timely identification is crucial for managing bipolar disorder effectively. Look out for these early symptoms: 1. Mood Swings: Experiencing intense highs to extreme lows, which are more frequent and interfere with daily activities and sleep.
How do I know I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown?
- sleep problems such as insomnia.
- bowel problems such as irritable bowel syndrome.
- chest pain or feeling like your heart is racing.
- sweating.
- changes in sexual interest.
What is a psychotic break?
Psychosis is a break with reality where the thoughts and perceptions of a person become disrupted. These changes happen gradually, typically in three phases: early, acute, and recovery.
What is a 5150 psychiatric hold?
5150 is the number of the section of the Welfare and Institutions Code, which allows an adult who is experiencing a mental health crisis to be involuntarily detained for a 72- hour psychiatric hospitalization when evaluated to be a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled.
When should you walk away from someone with mental illness?
If the relationship becomes too emotionally draining, affects your own mental health negatively, or if there's a pattern of toxic behavior that doesn't improve despite attempts to help, it may be time to consider walking away.
How long do you stay in a mental hospital for depression?
You may stay a few days or as long as a few weeks, depending on your situation and the specific treatment you are receiving. You may be in a locked unit. At first, you may not be able to leave the unit. Later, you may be able to go to other parts of the hospital, or get a pass to leave the hospital for a short time.
What are BPD eyes?
Dissociation and Emotional Dysregulation in BPD
This might manifest as a "glazed-over" or "empty" look in their eyes, hence the term "empty eyes." This phenomenon is also associated with depersonalization or derealization, where individuals feel detached from themselves or their surroundings.
What high functioning BPD looks like?
Discouraged Borderline (Quiet BPD): Also referred to as the high-functioning BPD (quiet borderline), this category of BPD makes one heavily dependent on others and practice avoidance. They are incredibly loyal and humble. However, this may make them clingy.
What is the life expectancy of someone with BPD?
The effects of untreated borderline personality disorder (BPD) can be devastating. For example, the physical and mental health impact of this disorder is so severe that life expectancy among people who have BPD is about 20 years less than the national average.