lilyblackman

[lilyblackman]

Bobst Barrier 

A short documentary by Lily Blackman.

[lilyblackman]

Panic Attack 

An audio slide show by Lily Blackman. 

[lilyblackman]

College Mental Health Crisis

An audio story by Lily Blackman

Sources:

Neda Hajizadeh, MMC Counseling and Wellness Center Director

Ta’lor Mosely, MMC Student, 20

Nyx Rankin, MMC Student, 19

Works Cited:

Baker, Katie J.M. “How Colleges Flunk Mental Health.” Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2016, www.newsweek.com/2014/02/14/how-colleges-flunk-mental-health-245492.html.

Fairyington, Stephanie. “9 Eye-Opening Truths About the College Mental Health Crisis.” Thrive Global, Thrive Global, 9 Oct. 2018, thriveglobal.com/stories/9-eye-opening-truths-about-the-college-mental-health-crisis/.

Henriques, Gregg. “The College Student Mental Health Crisis (Update).” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 18 Nov. 2018, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge/201811/the-college-student-mental-health-crisis-update.

Henriques, Gregg. “The College Student Mental Health Crisis.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 15 Feb. 2014, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge/201402/the-college-student-mental-health-crisis.

Wolverton, Brad. “As Students Struggle With Stress and Depression, Colleges Act as Counselors.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 21 Feb. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/education/learning/mental-health-counseling-on-campus.html.

Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK9_TJL8gLc

[lilyblackman]

Lack of Mental Health Care Access for Uninsured and Low-Income Americans

By Lily Blackman

With stigmas around mental health subsiding, millions of Americans are finally reaching out for help. In their 2018 survey, The National Council for Behavioral Health (NCBH) reported 56% of Americans are, “seeking or wanting to seek mental health services for themselves or a loved one.” These individuals are largely Millennials or Gen Z and tend to be lower income. What could be a renaissance in awareness and treatment is instead being stunted by the Health Care systems' failure to provide accessible care to uninsured and low income Americans.

Stays in a mental health facility an average of $8,000 to $12,000 per diem.  For therapy sessions, the average is $75 to $150. “Usually multiple appointments are needed to address the issue,” says Thomas Galassini, a social worker for the non-profit organization United Way of Metro Chicago, “The cumulative costs become prohibitive.”

Insurance companies lag behind the culture at large in treating mental and physical health with parity. Says Galassini, “Insurers often have caps for the number of sessions which set unrealistic expectations for being cured.” Once this number is exceeded, the therapist has to decide whether or not further treatment is needed and if so apply with no guarantee that the sessions will be approved.

Therapists are reimbursed by Insurance Companies at a lower than market rate driving up co-pay costs for patients and forcing some providers do not accept insurance at all. “Many therapists are sole proprietors,” says Galassini, ”they do not have the clout nor time to engage with insurance companies.” Therapists are often in poor financial straits themselves, taking on six figure student loan debts to attain their degree. These conditions are contributing to a shortage of mental health providers. The number of doctors entering psychiatry is in continuous decline yet more then half the current work force is expected to retire in 2025. Those who are entering the field are being pushed en masse into private practices that do not accept insurance. Issues of financial accessibility are exasperated by a lack of facilities and/or caregivers within proximity, especially in rural areas and communities of color. The NCBH found 46% of Americans, “Have had to or know someone who has had to drive more than an hour roundtrip to seek treatment.”

   Inaccessibility to mental health care has devastating effects on our society as a whole. It is at the heart of hot button issues such as the opioid crisis with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reporting 50.5% of substance abusers suffer a co-occurring mental illness. It contributes to the crime rate with the NAMI also reporting that approximately 20% of state prisoners, 21% of local jail prisoners, and a shocking 70% of juvenile inmates have a mental health condition. However, access to care is first and foremost a human rights issues. The NAMI’s most devastating number is the 56.4% of adults with a mental illness that are not receiving any treatment.

While they face a large challenge, there are many organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness advocating for accessibility. The Open Path Psychotherapy Collective and The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics offer low cost mental health care options along with many local community health centers.

Works Cited:

Burwell, Joy. “New Study Reveals Lack of Access as Root Cause for Mental Health Crisis in America.” National Council for Behavioral Health, 2018, www.thenationalcouncil.org/press-releases/new-study-reveals-lack-of-access-as-root-cause-for-mental-health-crisis-in-america/.

Chatel, Amanda. “What I Wish I Knew About The Cost Of Mental Health Care Before Being Hospitalized.” Bustle, Bustle, 8 Feb. 2019, www.bustle.com/p/the-cost-of-mental-health-hospitalization-is-part-of-what-makes-mental-health-care-inaccessible-15919218.

Dad, Abhijit. “American Millennials Are Still Struggling To Access Health Care -- Here's Why.” Qrius, 9 Feb. 2019, qrius.com/american-millennials-are-still-struggling-to-access-health-care-heres-why/.

Gionfriddo, Paul. “Mental Health in America - Access to Care Data.” Mental Health America, 17 Oct. 2016, www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/mental-health-america-access-care-data.

Leipholtz, Beth. “For Millennials, Accessing Mental Health Care Is A Major Issue.” The Fix, 11 Jan. 2019, www.thefix.com/millennials-accessing-mental-health-care-major-issue.