Health Stigma: Treating Mental Illness With Counseling

Counseling is truly a gateway to comprehending and addressing your mental health. These services benefit those suffering from depression, anxiety, excessive stress, or any mental illness.

While mental illnesses are very common, many people let variables get in the way. Everyone should understand why this happens, regardless of whether your current mental health situation. Because if you aren’t effected yourself, it’s almost a guarantee that someone you are close to deals with a mental illness of their own. 

Factors That Hinder Seeking Help

If it’s so important to mental health, what’s keeping those in need from seeking counseling? The answer to this isn’t always simple as there are several variables to seeking treatment.

The biggest hurdles for those seeking help are the unfortunate stigmas that still exist in our world. Because of this, those who need counseling sometimes go untreated altogether. In fact, up to 75% of Americans and Europeans don’t seek the help they need. These stigmas are incredibly damaging and backtrack efforts by those with mental illnesses.

Furthermore, rural areas sometimes struggle to find counselors. This is oftentimes due to the phenomenon known as ‘brain drain’.

When people living in rural areas are interested in becoming counselors, psychiatrists, or social workers, they must travel to more urban environments in order to attend college. It’s common for these people to seek jobs in urban areas as well and not return home to work. This causes a shortage of mental health professionals in rural areas.

But those living in rural environments need counselors too. So many people who fit this demographic must travel longer distances to attend their sessions, which creates a number of additional setbacks.

Another reason why people are hesitant to seek treatment is because of associated costs or a lack of proper insurance. Many insurance plans set limitations on mental health care, making it difficult or impossible for people to seek the help they need.

Thankfully there are ways around this variable.

Community clinics, and university programs with sliding payment plans exist all around the country. I’ve attended both of these types of counseling programs personally, as the costs for traditional clinics have been beyond my financial capabilities.

These environments are still very comfortable and can be just as effective. They are also much more affordable as they are based on income and ‘pay what you can’ mindsets.

Services from university grad students are also mutually beneficial. Patients get the help they need, at a discounted rate, and grad students learn how to pursue their future careers, with help from their instructors, who are licensed professionals. Also, if you are attending school additional mental health support for college students is available.

If you are in need of low cost counseling services, a great starting point is to search Google for terms like "affordable mental health care near me" or "sliding scale counseling near me". The Anxiety and Depression Association of America’s website may also be helpful.

You Are Not ‘Crazy’

Stigmatized language associated with mental health is common around the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s appropriate or correct. Words that are casually thrown around such as ‘insane’, ‘crazy’, or ‘psycho’ are damaging because they project negativity and can make those struggling to achieve mental stability feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek help.

Most people make the claim that these words are harmless, but they are contributing to these specific stigmas whether those who use them realize it or not.

Even if you are coping with a severe mental illness or a combination of illnesses, you are by no means ‘crazy’ or inferior. Seeking help shows that you are brave, wise, and have a great deal of self-worth.

You Aren’t the Only One

Especially in difficult situations, those struggling with mental health may feel buried in their illness. They may feel alone, out of place, or strange for living with mental illnesses. It’s important to always remember that you are not alone.

Mental illnesses are widespread, and support communities exist everywhere. Turn to online communities such as Mental Health America, Mental Support Community, and the National Alliance of Mental Illness if you are feeling stuck.These groups may help you recognize how important seeking treatment is.

Your life can be transformed through counseling so long as you don’t let the unfair stigmas get you down!