Insufficient Mental Health Support is Killing People
By Katie Scripoch
By Katie Scripoch
Mental health is a tricky topic. For anyone that has ever had a conversation with me, they would know that mental health is extremely important to me, and that I strive to bring more light and awareness to the subject.
The National Institute of Mental Health recorded over 52 million people fighting mental illness in the United States and just over half a million mental health professionals in the country (Psych Central). With the lack of support in place for those struggling, it cannot possibly be a person’s fault if they lose their battle, there is a systemic issue that needs to be addressed.
In February 2021, I was sent to Uplift Family Services, a local crisis center in Campbell that has since merged with Pacific Centers. While I was there, one of the patients was screaming, crying and begging to be given a place in a drug rehabilitation center because they felt like they couldn’t do it anymore. A 5150 hold only lasts for 72 hours, but for this patient, they were unable to discharge the patient for their own wellbeing. After five days in the center, they had already seen so many kids coming in and out, being given beds in rehab centers and psychiatric hospitals or going home while they had to wait. This person was at rock bottom, and the system failed them, because they weren’t able to receive the help that they needed to. They weren’t able to get adequate support that they needed and I can’t even begin to imagine the emotions that they were experiencing.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, “within a few years, the country will be short between 14,280 and 31,109 psychiatrists, and psychologists, social workers, and others will be overextended as well.” Before COVID-19 there was already a shortage of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, but with mental health issues continuing to increase post quarantine, mental health professionals are being spread even thinner than before. Not only does it put a strain on the professionals, but it negatively impacts psychiatric patients, because they aren’t getting the support that they need.
When I schedule my therapy and psychiatry appointments, a receptionist will list days for upcoming appointments that are available. A couple months ago, I was trying to schedule an extra appointment because I really needed the support and didn’t feel like I could wait until my next scheduled appointment. They weren’t available for another month or two. Too far out for someone in crisis. Worst case scenario, lack of professional support leads to death by suicide. Even though there are shortages, not being able to schedule appointments sooner, or offering some sort of immediate support, can be detrimental to others. Essentially, no therapy or support, often leads to hospitalizations and involuntary psychiatric holds that could have been avoided if the person was given the support they needed in a timely manner.
Earlier this year, the Washington Post looked into why so many therapists were quitting in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Yet 65 percent of the more than 1,100 psychologists who responded said they had no capacity for new patients and 68 percent said their wait lists were longer than they were in 2020.” In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 46,000 lives lost to suicide. Even if you were in need of support, and took those courageous steps to reach out for help, you wouldn’t be able to get that support that you need because therapists are overbooked and their waiting lists are so long that it’s unlikely you’ll get the help you need within a reasonable time. Not only within a reasonable time frame, but it could be too late to receive help altogether.
The demand for mental health support has greatly increased in recent years, and due to burnout, the shortage of mental health professionals continues to increase. According to the American Psychological Association, “these indicators suggesting many psychologists are working at or beyond capacity, more than 4 in 10 (41%) reported being unable to meet the demand for treatment (up from 30% last year), and 46% said they felt burned out (up from 41% last year).” Not only are mental health professionals being overbooked, but they are working beyond capacity and are starting to burn out, which in time will worsen the situation even more.
It’s not just that mental health illnesses have increased due to the pandemic and the aftermath, it’s the burnout of therapists and lack of support that has only worsened these suicide rates. Society needs to be able to find a way where we can increase the number of therapists and psychologists, to give those in need the support so they can not only thrive, but so they can survive. Again, mental illnesses aren’t killing people, the lack of support and interest in giving more support to those that need it is.
The National Institute of Mental Health recorded over 52 million people fighting mental illness in the United States and just over half a million mental health professionals in the country (Psych Central). With the lack of support in place for those struggling, it cannot possibly be a person’s fault if they lose their battle, there is a systemic issue that needs to be addressed.
In February 2021, I was sent to Uplift Family Services, a local crisis center in Campbell that has since merged with Pacific Centers. While I was there, one of the patients was screaming, crying and begging to be given a place in a drug rehabilitation center because they felt like they couldn’t do it anymore. A 5150 hold only lasts for 72 hours, but for this patient, they were unable to discharge the patient for their own wellbeing. After five days in the center, they had already seen so many kids coming in and out, being given beds in rehab centers and psychiatric hospitals or going home while they had to wait. This person was at rock bottom, and the system failed them, because they weren’t able to receive the help that they needed to. They weren’t able to get adequate support that they needed and I can’t even begin to imagine the emotions that they were experiencing.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, “within a few years, the country will be short between 14,280 and 31,109 psychiatrists, and psychologists, social workers, and others will be overextended as well.” Before COVID-19 there was already a shortage of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, but with mental health issues continuing to increase post quarantine, mental health professionals are being spread even thinner than before. Not only does it put a strain on the professionals, but it negatively impacts psychiatric patients, because they aren’t getting the support that they need.
When I schedule my therapy and psychiatry appointments, a receptionist will list days for upcoming appointments that are available. A couple months ago, I was trying to schedule an extra appointment because I really needed the support and didn’t feel like I could wait until my next scheduled appointment. They weren’t available for another month or two. Too far out for someone in crisis. Worst case scenario, lack of professional support leads to death by suicide. Even though there are shortages, not being able to schedule appointments sooner, or offering some sort of immediate support, can be detrimental to others. Essentially, no therapy or support, often leads to hospitalizations and involuntary psychiatric holds that could have been avoided if the person was given the support they needed in a timely manner.
Earlier this year, the Washington Post looked into why so many therapists were quitting in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Yet 65 percent of the more than 1,100 psychologists who responded said they had no capacity for new patients and 68 percent said their wait lists were longer than they were in 2020.” In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 46,000 lives lost to suicide. Even if you were in need of support, and took those courageous steps to reach out for help, you wouldn’t be able to get that support that you need because therapists are overbooked and their waiting lists are so long that it’s unlikely you’ll get the help you need within a reasonable time. Not only within a reasonable time frame, but it could be too late to receive help altogether.
The demand for mental health support has greatly increased in recent years, and due to burnout, the shortage of mental health professionals continues to increase. According to the American Psychological Association, “these indicators suggesting many psychologists are working at or beyond capacity, more than 4 in 10 (41%) reported being unable to meet the demand for treatment (up from 30% last year), and 46% said they felt burned out (up from 41% last year).” Not only are mental health professionals being overbooked, but they are working beyond capacity and are starting to burn out, which in time will worsen the situation even more.
It’s not just that mental health illnesses have increased due to the pandemic and the aftermath, it’s the burnout of therapists and lack of support that has only worsened these suicide rates. Society needs to be able to find a way where we can increase the number of therapists and psychologists, to give those in need the support so they can not only thrive, but so they can survive. Again, mental illnesses aren’t killing people, the lack of support and interest in giving more support to those that need it is.