3 Barriers to Mental Health Treatment

This episode is based on various comments and questions that I have received from listeners about barriers to mental health treatment—whether those be personal or systemic. Consequently, I wanted to give suggestions around the top comments that I hear from folks on this topic.

Do I really need mental health treatment?

Let’s start with the question that I hear a lot: "Am I really that bad?" I’ve had listeners reach out, tell me about their experience, and then say “But, like, I’m fine, right? I don’t really need to come to therapy.”

There are many credible self-help resources available and there are many things you can do on your own. However, what I’ll say is, if you were concerned enough to ask me that question, there is probably enough going on that you may want to see a professional even if it’s only a handful of sessions. That way, you can get a proper assessment and be provided with treatment recommendations.

I knew this skateboarder in college who fell down attempting a trick and hurt his wrist. He avoided going to the doctor and kept skating. After a fair amount of peer pressure, he finally went to the doctor and was informed he had a hairline fracture and was given treatment recommendations. He ignored those suggestions and the hairline fracture grew into a major problem. I remember him complaining about chronic pain later on. Why do I tell you this story? To remind you to address the problem when it’s small!

There is a quote that I enjoy: “No one raindrop thinks it caused the flood.” I caution you to be mindful of your raindrops. If you find that there are buckets all over your house to catch the water leaking in, it might be time to get professional help.

What if I can't afford therapy?

Let’s get to the elephant in the room: money. I hear all the time about the cost of treatment and the personal and systemic factors that play into this barrier.

From a personal perspective, I have seen people who don’t believe they deserve to get better or invest in themselves as people. If you’re one of these folks, I would implore you to consider that this mindset is probably a foundational element of why you need to be in treatment. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself. Your well-being is not a detriment to society, it’s a win for all of us.

Another issue that will arise regarding money is the mishandling of funds. At times, I will talk to patients who may need to reallocate resources from various miscellaneous spending so that they can afford services. Are you the type that when—let’s face it, if—you check your balance statements, there are recurring subscriptions that you barely remember signing up for? Or you realize you didn’t cook a single meal at home last week? If you are willing to modify these habits, you might discover you can...

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