In a perfect world, everyone would receive the mental health treatment they need when they need it. Compassionate mental health provider networks, like Rivia Mind, work to bring our world closer to that ideal. In the meantime, however, there’s no question that there are discrepancies across demographics of who receives mental health treatment and who doesn’t.
Cost, culture, and accessibility all play a factor. Understanding the obstacles that people face when attempting to find mental health treatment can help us to close that gap. So who is most likely to receive mental health treatment? Where is it lacking? And most importantly, why is that the case? Let’s look at the numbers.
Who Is Receiving Mental Health Treatment?
In 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 21.6% of adults in the United States sought out mental health treatment, whether that be therapy, medication, or both. This was a 2.4% increase from 2019. Of those adults, those between the ages of 18-44 were most likely to receive mental health treatment (23.2%), followed by the 45-64 age bracket (21.2%), and finally those 65 and older (18.9). Other findings in the study included:
- More women receive treatment than men
- Most likely to receive treatment by race:
- 30.4% Non-Hispanic White adults
- 14.8% non-Hispanic Black adults
- 12.8% of Hispanic adults
- 10.8% of Asian adults
- Adults in nonmetropolitan areas (small towns, suburbs, etc.) were most likely to receive treatment; however, adults in large metropolitan areas saw the most increase from 2019-2021 (from 16.8% to 22.2%).
What this tells us is that, in 2021, a White woman between the ages of 18-44, living in a nonmetropolitan area, would be the most likely to receive mental health treatment; meanwhile, an Asian man at least 65 years of age, living in a large metropolitan area, would be less likely.
Factors That Impact Likelihood To Receive Mental Health Treatment
It’s clear from these numbers that gender, race, age, and home environment all play roles when it comes to who receives mental health treatment and who doesn’t. The question is why certain groups have more access to mental health treatment than others.
Although women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety, for instance, men tend to have higher rates of substance abuse issues. Mental health treatment is needed amongst all of these demographics. So why do some struggle to receive support?
Accessibility
Another major factor when it comes to receiving mental health support is accessibility. Those in nonmetropolitan areas are more likely to have cars, which will allow them to drive to an in-person mental health treatment center that isn’t accessible by public transportation. By contrast, more people in large metropolitan areas are likely to rely on the public transportation system. If there isn’t an easily accessible public transit route, they may not be able to go to therapy.
Health issues, such as mobility issues or immunocompromisation, can also make it difficult for patients to go to a physical therapy meeting or meds consultation. Fortunately, since 2020, Telehealth appointments have become more common, allowing those who struggle with physical access to attend therapy.
Scheduling
Many mental health treatment offices are open during business hours on Monday through Friday. This may be fine for those who work from home, are homemakers, or have primarily part-time jobs. Those who work 9-5 jobs or work multiple jobs may struggle to make it to therapy week after week on weekdays. Some have recently turned to text therapy services, as this allows you to receive mental health support on your own time. This, however, has some mixed results.
Some therapists have begun offering evening hours or Saturday hours as a way to help patients who work primarily from 9-5 on Monday through Friday. While weekdays are still the norm, there are some alternatives to be found, especially with telehealth.
Price & Insurance
Finally, income tends to create a wide gap when it comes to who receives mental health support. Mental health treatment can cost hundreds of dollars per session out of pocket. Insurance copays can help, and 3 out of 4 Americans have reported that they found it easier to receive mental health support after getting insurance. But roughly 30 million Americans are still without health insurance, and if they can’t afford insurance, they likely can’t afford the out of pocket cost of therapy.
Again, some improvements are being made in this regard. Some mental health provider networks offer mental health support to low-income, uninsured patients on a sliding scale. And many low-income people who are eligible to receive state insurance can receive low or no copays for mental health services, making it more financially accessible.
University psychology programs also sometimes offer therapy for low-income patients, in which therapy is performed by graduate students, supervised (over video) by a licensed professional. Student therapists are not able to diagnose mental illnesses, but can provide invaluable counseling and therapy.
Social Pressure & Stigma
Our own psychiatric nurse practitioner, Dakota Thomas, PMHNP-BC, states that while price may be a factor for some, she has seen more of an issue with social stigma. “I have worked with Medicaid patients and low-income patients that were provided free or reduced care through government agencies or State funded programs,” she explains. “Despite this, I think there is a lack of awareness about what mental health treatment entails as well as various stigmas that prevent people from getting help for fear of punishment or prejudice in different communities.”
Looking at gender again, emotional openness and vulnerability is more commonly associated with femininity than masculinity. Because mental health treatment means being open about how you’re feeling, it is often more socially acceptable for women than men. Men are traditionally encouraged to “suck it up” and not talk about their feelings, which can make them resistant to therapy.
Culture can impact social pressure to avoid therapy, as well. If you come from a culture that believes mental health treatment to be weak or shameful, you may be less likely to seek out treatment. Your culture may actively discourage acknowledging mental illness and receiving support, especially given the diminishing but still common mental health stigma. Thomas gives an example of a physician not treating their depression for fear of being flagged on a medical board or “being in a certain cultural group where getting mental health is frowned upon.”
She states that most of the patients she’s seen getting mental health support are women and “of a certain generation where seeing a therapist and being on behavioral health medication is the norm and not the exception. Community outreach through college campuses and some corporate environments have helped create an opening for getting needed treatment.”
The Bottom Line
Socioeconomic factors continue to impact who receives mental health treatment, though increased Telehealth services are closing the gap somewhat. As it becomes more common to talk about therapy across demographics, the stigma is slowly disappearing. Hopefully in the next few years, we will see further improvement when it comes to accessible therapy.
A concentrated effort needs to be made to target communities where mental health support is lacking due to stigma or legitimate fear. Part of what can help is sharing the benefits of mental health care with those communities, such as being able to get back to daily life with managed symptoms.
Rivia Mind has skilled, compassionate mental health professionals ready to help you begin your mental health journey. Contact us today to learn more or schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
