More and more people are seeking help for mental health. Aggravating factors like the current pandemic, as well as strong efforts to spread awareness have led the demand for mental health services to exceed the capacity of the current system. A study done by America’s Mental Health 2018 revealed that more than half of the American population are looking for mental health services.
The effort to encourage more people to seek help is evident, but there remains a bottleneck preventing many from receiving the treatment they need. 3 in 4 Americans agree that mental health and physical health are equally important, yet, almost the same percentage say that mental health services are inaccessible.
The shortage of in-patient facilities for severe cases is also a problem. In the 1960s, terrible conditions subjected to those in mental institutions prompted a change in policies for admitting new patients. Since then, along with government defunding, most public psychiatric hospitals were forced to close down. From 2010 to 2016, the number of psychiatric beds fell by 17 percent. In 2016, it was estimated that for every 100,000 Americans, less than 12 beds were available.
This group of people who require long-term psychiatric treatment often end up homeless, or in hospitals and prisons, where there is inadequate care. Donald Trump has even suggested that the lack of mental institutions could have a part to play in the recurring mass shootings in America.
Gaps in the System
According to most sources, the key issues preventing accessible mental health care can be summed up into the following: social stigma, high costs, public ignorance and lengthy administrative processes. Tackling these requires an effort from both the parts of existing mental health care facilities, as well as the government and relevant organizations.
Although it is an ongoing effort, surveys do show that stigma surrounding mental health is decreasing. The younger generation’s approach to the subject is generally more open, as we can see from the sharing of jokes or memes about mental issues as a way to talk about their experiences. Campaigns such as “Make It Okay” have also helped to reduce misconceptions and encourage discussions.
Apart from the fear of acknowledging and seeking help, a large number of people are financially constrained by high consultation and treatment charges. Low income and a lack of insurance coverage blocks off all paths toward seeking treatment. Also, some complain that actually finding a suitable clinic is not easy, and appointments come with long waiting times.
Hence, another focus would be to strengthen the infrastructure of mental healthcare facilities and systems. This consists of the equipment, communication and information networks, manpower allocation and so on. One way is to start by maximizing efficiency of existing systems.
Strengthening Infrastructure
Better training of healthcare workers and building more facilities can help to meet higher demand. This can increase the options available for those seeking services and lower the number of patients having to go through long waits before receiving treatment.
By working to maximize efficiency and achieve more with less resources, this can be translated into lower prices offered to patients. Lowering the price barrier can greatly increase the accessibility of services, especially to those with lower incomes. Mental healthcare, like physical healthcare, should not be a privilege limited to the wealthy.
Apart from staffing and facilities, maintenance of the technological infrastructure also makes a big difference. Managing technology in healthcare is challenging as it deals with large amounts of confidential and critical data. Hospitals should make full use of collected data by analysing trends in both revenue and patient satisfaction. They can consider upgrading from traditional WAN networks to SD-WAN to better manage large and complex databases. Such upgrades have been shown to have a very high return on investment for hospitals and other large institutions.
Tapping into digital platforms for communication between doctors and patients is especially relevant during the current pandemic, where physical meetings might not be convenient. This can also make it easier for people to get help when needed. Official directories where lists of available clinics are compiled into one place can simplify the process of seeking treatment.
After freeing up resources, more can be pumped into intervention and prevention programmes. While working to increase the public’s awareness of spotting signs and symptoms, the nature of mental illnesses are such that symptoms are less obvious and straightforward than those of physical illness. This gap can be filled by professional intervention in schools, homeless shelters, or other high-risk organizations.
Changes in government policies and support from other organizations like insurance agencies can also play a big part to further ease financial concerns of people seeking help. Funding aid can provide facilities with the boost needed for infrastructure upgrades. Currently, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the main government agency involved in mental health in America, with a nearly $2 billion budget for the year of 2020.
Lastly, hospitals and clinics should invest in research, and continually come up with plans to evaluate and improve their infrastructure. They can also work together with other mental healthcare institutions toward a common goal of providing better and more accessible service for all.