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David Baxter PhD

Late Founder
Mental health stigmas shift; care access seen as poor
By Azadeh Ansari, CNN.com
September 2, 2015

Mental health has a long-standing public perception problem, but the stigma appears to be shifting, at least in the United States, a new survey reveals. Results from a national online survey on mental health, anxiety and suicide indicate that 90% of Americans value mental and physical health equally.  "Progress is being made in how American adults view mental health, and the important role it plays in our everyday lives. People see connection between mental health and overall well-being, our ability to function at work and at home and how we view the world around us," said Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The foundation commissioned a Harris Poll with the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention to gauge public opinion on mental health, anxiety and suicide awareness.

In August, the Mental Health and Suicide Survey was emailed to a random sampling of individuals age 18 and older who live in the United States.

Despite recognizing a link between mental health and overall well-being, the majority of survey participants view access to mental health care inaccessible and costly. 

How Americans view mental health conditions
Although most people surveyed identified life circumstances, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder as risk factors for suicide, more than half -- 53% -- did not know that people with anxiety disorders are also at risk for suicide, the survey found. 

"The findings provide key insights into how Americans view mental health conditions, life circumstances, barriers for seeking help and their understanding of the risk factors for suicide," said Dr. Doryn Chervin, executive secretary of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. 

Though psychiatrists say women are more likely than men to have suicidal thoughts, the survey indicates that women are also more likely than men to receive mental health treatment and more likely to report experiencing anxiety and depressive disorders. 

Men, the survey reveals, are less likely to report anxiety and depressive disorders and more likely than women to report substance-related conditions.

Between 1999 and 2013, nationwide suicide rates have increased 19.9%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Men are four times more likely than women to die from suicide and rates are especially higher for middle-aged, white, non-Hispanic men 35 to 65 years old," said Dr. Alex Crosby, branch chief with the CDC's Division of Violence Prevention.

Despite the statistics, nearly all survey respondents -- 94% -- think suicide is sometimes or often preventable.
"Effectively diagnosing and treating both anxiety disorders and depression, especially when they co-occur, are critical pathways to intervening and reducing the suicide crisis," said Dr. Mark Pollack, president of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Seeking care seen as a sign of strength
The survey also revealed that people ages 18 to 24 are becoming more comfortable with seeking medical help and are more likely to consider it a sign of strength to see a medical health professional, compared with older people.

"There are many steps people can take to help if they know someone who is suicidal," Moutier said. "Reach out to mental health providers, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline -- 1-800-273-TALK (8255) -- and make sure the person is not alone until they can get help.

"Talking helps saves lives." 
While psychiatrists affiliated and not affiliated with the survey acknowledge the steady shift in people wanting to understand mental health better, many say more research needs to be done because a stigma still lingers.

"It's a great step forward to see a public increase in awareness on mental health issues, but there are still limitations when it comes to gaining access to care," said Dr. Ranna Parekh, director of the Division of Diversity and Health Equity at the American Psychiatric Association , which was not affiliated with the survey.

"There needs to be an increase in the number of trained mental health professionals, proper facilities and first-response support across the nation in order to treat all the patients who need the special care." 

Related:
Going public with depression
 

PrincessX

Account Closed
I agree that there is limited access to care, even with public health care plans.
There is not enough psychiatrists, there are multiple barriers to Nurse practitioner's practices and professional development, that are in disservice to the public. Counselling and psychotherapy are also not readily accessible for people who don't generate high income or are in need of long term therapy. It could be difficult at times to find the right professional for one's situation. To make people in need of mental health services pay fees higher than the fees for elective surgery is absurd.
All research shows that mental health disorders or adjustment problems affect negatively one's income potential. It makes sense to me. We don't expect people to double their income while suffering from other diseases in order to get needed healthcare services. We wouldn't expect a Diabetic to pay a large amount of money for Diabetes education in order to learn how to self inject Insulin and manage the condition, while the person can barely work. Why is it expected from a patient with a psychiatric or psychological disorder to pay a lot of money in order to get necessary education and learn how to manage their symptoms? I might be alone in my concern, but I don't understand why is access to mental health services so limited?
It is true that we have here public hospitals, but they are only for cases of high acuity, and with the limited funding for health care, the acuity on the wards gets higher every year. People, who were in psychiatric ICU before become increasingly admitted to the regular ward instead, making it inaccessible for those with low acuity.
I don't understand though, where is preventative care? Why do we wait for the acute stage.
 
While Ansari notes that mental health stigma is shifting, the article did not clearly mention how this process was occurring. True, in the U.S., celebrities and people who are not financially dependent upon a business paycheck to survive have greater liberties than most to discuss their illness openly. Many of us, myself included, still most remain in the shadows so as not to jeporadize our income. Additionally, while some business offer outside counseling services for their employees, I would wager that most do not make use of it because of the uncertainty of an employer discovering same.

Thus, those who seek care, do so at their own expense. It cost more. Yet, they maintain their privacy and dignity.
 

PrincessX

Account Closed
Yes, I agree. EAPs are a waste of time. Anyway, sorry for taking a position on this topic.

Thinking about it, it is interesting that celebrities have a high suicide incidence in general.
And we lost Michael Jackson likely to his private doctor.
It costs about 200$ per hour to see a registered psychologist where I live, and I went for some time before but the most expensive service doesn't always equal the best service either, and you can appreciate that it is hard to maintain long term. In fact, I have a high income friend, who is chronically depressed/suicidal and has no access to long term services.
 
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