Uncovering the Mental Healthcare Crisis in America

In 2022, going to therapy is no longer taboo. For the first time, Americans have acknowledged that it's okay to not be okay. It's okay to ask for help. We're all human, and nobody can be okay all the time. While the media constantly reminds us that "hot girls go to therapy," it hardly asks us, "how do hot girls afford therapy?" In a country that prides itself on being free, how can we still trap people into paying astronomical prices for mental healthcare?

In the United States, a singular therapy session averages between $100 to $200. However, the price may vary depending on the therapist's experience level. Although many Americans have insurance, it does not cover most of the cost of therapy. Some therapists do not accept insurance and only take out-of-pocket payments. Other therapists accept insurance; however, it usually does not cover the whole appointment amount. As a result, the patient is left paying a portion of the fee. 

Depending on which therapist you choose, you're paying some amount of money regardless. While many are willing to pay a fee to seek help, some do not have the finances to do so. In 2020, 37.2 million Americans were living in poverty. This number does not include the number of people living below the poverty line. If you're impoverished or homeless, how can you prioritize your mental health over food or a bed to sleep in?

The sad reality is that many Americans cannot afford to pay extra money to get the mental healthcare they need. As a result, many are forced to suffer. Most of the suffering occurs in Black, Native American, and Hispanic households. In 2021, the amount of Native Americans living within the poverty level tripled that of Caucasians. Where 24.3% of Native Americans were impoverished in 2021, only 8.2% of Caucasians were. 19.5% of Black Americans faced poverty and 17.1% of Hispanics did. 

Those in low-income households are left to seek out ways to self-medicate to cope with mental illness. Often, self-medication leads to drug addiction. According to the Addiction Group, drug addiction is more prevalent in low-income areas. Substance abuse can be a result of trauma, abuse, and neglect. However, many people facing poverty cannot find healthy ways to cope with trauma because there are few affordable mental healthcare options available. Typically, drug use worsens mental health in the long term. But, rehab is much less affordable than any type of therapy in the United States. 

While the taboo against therapy has been diminished, many still impose heavy judgment against those seeking rehab for substance abuse. However, many judgemental Americans don't know that your mental health only really matters if you can afford a therapist. For those without therapy or a strong support system, who are they left to turn to? Thousands of homeless people scatter the streets. Most of them are affected by mental illness, drug addiction, or both. However, America's classist and racist mental healthcare system is not there to cater to them. 

Instead, we label the homeless as "crazy" and "dangerous" and rarely take a moment to think about their living conditions. There are about 552,830 unhoused people living in the United States as of 2022. Even with homeless shelters, over 200,000 homeless people still do not have any shelter on most nights. 

Although America is "the land of the free," freedom can only truly be felt by those living above the poverty level in many circumstances. Wealthier Americans can afford private schools for their children. In private schools, paid tuition almost guarantees that each student gets the assistance they wouldn't find in free public schools. Public schools in low-income areas are overpopulated, understaffed, and lack many resources. Many private schools provide tablets or laptops for their students. Additionally, they offer guidance counselors that help students get accepted into college. 

When public schools do not provide the same resources, students are forced to work twice as hard to compete. How can they compete with others that were handed many opportunities they had to chase? If they are feeling any despair, they are essentially on their own. Therapy is costly, and the school counselor is often not paid enough to help students' problems adequately. Even then, with the struggle to find school staff currently, there may not be enough counselors to truly hear every worry of every student. 

As developed as the United States is, it is unfathomable how difficult it is for people to get help. The cost of therapy in other countries is significantly less than in America. For instance, therapists in Mexico may charge as low as 50 pesos ($2.50) per session. In Brazil, sessions may vary from 87 to 501 Brazilian reals ($20 to $120). In Italy, the price of therapy may range from 50 to 150 euros per session ($55 to $165). Not many countries charge more for therapy than the United States does. How can we be such a successful nation if we have so many people in need of mental help?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 52.9 million U.S. adults struggled with mental illness in 2020. That's 1 in 5 Americans—entirely too many people struggling for therapy to still be racist and classist in root. A randomized test of 320 psychotherapists in the New York Area found that psychotherapists are less likely to offer therapy appointments to Black middle-class patients than white ones. 28% of white callers were offered appointments, whereas only 17% of Black callers were. However, among both races, working-class Americans fared the worst. Only 8% of working-class callers were offered appointments.

There is a sad irony in the fact that the two most oppressed groups of people are the most neglected by healthcare professionals. If these healthcare workers aren't looking out for them, who is? As a nation, we need to work harder to make sure everyone has a fair chance to receive help. We need to work towards finding more cost-effective alternatives to therapy. We need to stop glamorizing therapy and drug addiction and face the fact that Americans are struggling. As "one nation under God," let's ensure everyone has the same opportunity to live the "American dream”.

Strike Out, 

Bella Kubach 

Boca Raton

Bella Kubach is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. Most of her free time is occupied by buying things she doesn’t need, reading her horoscope religiously, and making an endless amount of Spotify playlists. You can reach her at bellakubachxox@gmail.com