The Growing Mental Health Need
Rarely has there been a greater need for mental health support than now. Before the pandemic, there were already shortages of mental health professionals. For example, there were 45 psychologists or psychiatrists for every 100,000 Americans. In some places, that ratio was just one professional per every 30,000 people. Additionally, Mental Health America data reveals almost a quarter of adults with a mental illness say they aren’t able to get the treatment they need. As the pandemic continues to strain health care resources and take a toll on personal well-being, there are some ways to still receive mental health support. Telehealth is a great place to start to receive mental health care via video conferencing.
Additional Mental Health support resources include:
- Your primary care doctor, who can point you in the direction of mental health resources
- State psychological associations Work-based wellness and employee assistance programs
- The SAMHSA’s National Helpline, which is free, confidential and available 24/7 by calling 800-662-HELP (4357) providing mental health support
- The United Way’s free and confidential service for community mental health resources
There’s hope on the horizon with COVID-19 vaccine rollouts, but the pandemic is still evolving. Stay in touch with loved ones to offer mental health support and continue to check in with yourself, and do not be afraid to reach out for mental health help.