4 ms·

> the further you go the more the very things you need to get out are being undercut. One specific part of this is the difficulty of finding a therapist (in t

> the further you go the more the very things you need to get out are being undercut. One specific part of this is the difficulty of finding a therapist (in the US). I've had to go through that recently on behalf of a family member. It involves a lot of effort to find and contact providers, talking to strangers about personal things, having most of them reject your case, etc. This has been difficult enough even for me. The people who most need help - especially those with executive function or social anxiety issues - are also most likely to be defeated by the difficulty of getting it. That's a sick system. Schools and employers, who are often the sources of stress inducing or exacerbating mental health problems, could and should do a lot more to make the process easier.

foxyv 5y ago
What is worse, so many therapists in the USA are barely competent to handle even basic issues and there is no way to weed out the bad apples if you even get to choose. Insurance doesn't cover adequate care. (Usually 2-3 sessions a YEAR) Also, since it's a part of our horrible medical system it's usually suffering from the same opaque billing and corruption that our hospitals do.
- echoradio 5y ago
  > Insurance doesn't cover adequate care. (Usually 2-3 sessions a YEAR) This is incorrect. The passage of the ACA required insurance companies to lift the limits on visits for mental health. As someone who has dealt with the mental health system in the U.S. for 20+ years, I remember the time before the ACA and after — a big difference. But even with insurance, it’s not a guarantee to find someone who will treat you. I’ve had the experience of calling a long list of providers who accepted my insurance, but weren’t taking new patients.
SamoyedFurFluff 5y ago
This problem is worsened by the pandemic btw. The demand for mental healthcare has never been higher, but the healthcare system is breaking under they strain as workers are also dealing with burnout. (Also, hospitals and insurance rarely give due to psych it deserves.)

foxyv 5y ago

What is worse, so many therapists in the USA are barely competent to handle even basic issues and there is no way to weed out the bad apples if you even get to choose. Insurance doesn't cover adequate care. (Usually 2-3 sessions a YEAR) Also, since it's a part of our horrible medical system it's usually suffering from the same opaque billing and corruption that our hospitals do.

echoradio 5y ago
> Insurance doesn't cover adequate care. (Usually 2-3 sessions a YEAR) This is incorrect. The passage of the ACA required insurance companies to lift the limits on visits for mental health. As someone who has dealt with the mental health system in the U.S. for 20+ years, I remember the time before the ACA and after — a big difference. But even with insurance, it’s not a guarantee to find someone who will treat you. I’ve had the experience of calling a long list of providers who accepted my insurance, but weren’t taking new patients.

SamoyedFurFluff 5y ago

This problem is worsened by the pandemic btw. The demand for mental healthcare has never been higher, but the healthcare system is breaking under they strain as workers are also dealing with burnout. (Also, hospitals and insurance rarely give due to psych it deserves.)