Your experience
Recently I ran a poll on Twitter – What’s most likely to stop you from seeking help for your MENTAL HEALTH needs?
I didn’t expect for so many people to comment and engage with this post but once this tweet got out people had a lot to express about how they felt. Upon tweeting this question to my followers, ‘Fear of people’s opinion‘ was in the lead as the main reason for people not seeking help for their mental health. A few people expressed how they were treated in the past by health services and/or other individuals, recognising the stigma that is very much still prevalent today and this made some feel they couldn’t ask for mental health support. By the end of the poll results, the category ‘other‘ went past and took the lead by 2% as the main barrier for people seeking mental health support.
But what was the, ‘other‘ reason? Well, I gave people the option to expand further on their opinions and personal experiences and they didn’t hold back.
Here’s just a few of the things mentioned by people who used the opportunity to explain further in the comments…
– “Price governs all of my health care decisions. I go without needed treatments all the time.”
– “Lack of ease to access”
– “My biggest barrier has been anxiety about finding the right provider.”
– “It’s mostly the lack of knowledge in the docs and therapists. Most have no idea when it’s depression/anxiety or symptoms of your #chronicillness. Some will throw meds at it anyway and dismiss you. Others are caring and conservative in their approach. I prefer the latter.”
– “Certain treatments aren’t accessible with a physical disability. At least I haven’t found accessible services for a few areas of my mental health.”
– “Money is a big factor for most, especially in the USA. Therapists obviously deserve good pay but the cost is often out of reach. Online therapy portals have helped a lot of people with limited costs.”
– “Knowing the NHS in my area can’t provide what I need in time to make an impact. Or only giving 6-12 sessions. Not giving sessions until there no longer needed. So I went private while I do a tricky project So I can function, but why should anyone have to make this choice!”
– “Definitely time and money. This world does not allow for self care and tries to define anything enjoyable or enriching as a frivolous luxury. It’s unfortunate but it’s true. 
“
– “Transportation. Difficult to drive myself (poor health + have to borrow a car) & too expensive to use uber (& public transport doesn’t go near enough).”
– “Lack of money as NHS counselling is s*** or non existent so you need to pay for decent counselling and it’s not cheap”
– “Transportation is a main issue for me and also cost is huge.”
– “Definitely lack of money for the extremely high co-pays.”
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It was highlighted that mental health services are there but aren’t easy to access, reasons being location of therapy centres and transportation was also a big issue for people. However, the concern that was most expressed was the cost of therapy and having efficient access to mental health services, some even mentioning that they do infact realise they need help for their mental health but simply can not financially afford to do so or cannot physically attend because of other health issues (a lot of the time due to physical chronic illnesses).
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Laura Spoonie Blogs 
Thanks for your original research, Laura! I think you are hitting on important themes. Lack of affordable health options and transportation are real road blocks (pun intended) to good mental health in the US. Our health care system sends people to their primary care physician for psychiatric care when the PCP doctors don’t have an extensive enough training to give the best treatment. -Rebecca
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Thank you for stopping by and reading, Rebecca!
It really is such a shame that it’s this way for so many people. Indeed many roadblocks.
In the UK it’s getting just as bad and it’s definitely negligence within the care services.
I want to do my part in helping change this and also finding ways to notifying people for alternatives to services that are obviously too out of reach.
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I admire the work you are doing. I hope to emulate it in the next two years as I write my memoir about my mental health journey.
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This is an AWESOME article. It is so thorough and I love that this is based on research from real every day people. I have tried a few variants of mental health support through the NHS over the years. I used the online CBT therapy last time, I found this to be helpful because sometimes my anxiety is triggered by having to make it to places, because i’m worried I won’t be well enough due to my Fibro. So online was great for me. The only downside was that my wrists hurt from all the typing haha! Keep doing what you are doing, this is such important work. Thank you xxxx Rach
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YES! Online therapy is such an important option for people especially now more than ever.
From added stress and responsibilities to chronic illness and/or disorders etc. that prevent people from attending face-to-face therapy, online can at least offer people the opportunity to still work towards receiving assistance for their mental health needs.
I found it a shame that not many had even heard or thought about the alternative for online therapy which means either it’s not providing where they are OR medical professionals aren’t sharing this important information with patients.
Do you have any suggestions for what type of Mental Health Articles you would like to see me touch on for my Mental Health Mondays?!
Thanks for reading, Rach. Always appreciate your presence 🙏💖❤
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Hi friend!
1) I voted “fear of other people’s opinions” on this poll. In the past, price has been a barrier too.
2) I definitely believe that access is crucial because, as you said, everyone has a mental health. I do my part by volunteering therapy hours at a local free clinic. I also plan to offer two pro-bono therapy slots when I open my private practice.
3) Hmm. The personal posts are the best. I’m always up for reading about how others cope as well.
Great post!
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I really thought that “fear of other people’s opinions” option would have been in the lead till the finale. It was very enlightening to read of people’s different experiences and reasons behind what they chose.
It’s unfortunate that too often people are secluded out of a service when it’s initial purpose was for people who need assistance with their mental health, which is the general public.
You’re a marvelous being 🙌 I got some exciting news… it’s to do with me starting to help out within the mental health community and making connections, I’ll message it after I find the guts to email organisation representative though 😄
More personal posts will be on the way, soon!
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Yes! Can’t wait to hear about it!!!
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