Mental health takes a backseat to physical health in the US, according to a new study of the US healthcare system. About 75% of respondents said mental health problems are identified and treated ‘slightly worse’ or ‘much worse’ than physical ailments – despite 81% seeing an increased incidence of mental illness in the past five years.
West Health, a national nonprofit focused on aging and health care, teamed up with Gallup in February to survey nearly 2,300 U.S. adults. The results were released on Wednesday.
About 5% of respondents believed that mental health problems are treated ‘slightly better’ or ‘much better’, and 15% felt that mental and physical health problems are treated equally.
The older the respondents, the more likely they are to think that mental health problems are treated worse:
- 18–29: 66%
- 30–49: 76%
- 50–64: 78%
- 65+: 82%
“Many Americans struggle with mental and behavioral health issues that are often not addressed in the context of the treatment and management of other medical conditions,” West Health President Timothy Lash said in a news release. “Health systems, health care providers, caregivers and patients themselves must pay as much attention to mental health as they do to their physical health as they age. The two are inextricably linked and critical to overall health, successful aging and quality of life.”
Respondents were also asked whether they themselves had had a mental illness in the past year. Those who said no were more likely to think mental health is treated worse than physical health, 79% compared to 72% of people who had had a mental illness.
The US healthcare system’s report card was also poor, with a large number of respondents giving it a D when it came to dealing with mental health issues:
- A: 1%
- B: 8%
- C: 27%
- D: 32%
- F: 25%
People are experiencing skyrocketing mental health issues in the US
The vast majority of respondents said the number of Americans with mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, has increased “somewhat” or “a lot” compared to five years ago, 39% and 42% respectively.
Women and people aged 50 to 64 were most likely to say the incidence has increased, while men and people aged 30 to 49 were most likely to say the incidence has remained the same. Only 4% of all respondents said the incidence has decreased.
Mental illness continues to be clouded by stigmatization
The subject of mental illness may not be the taboo it was half a century ago, but 70% of respondents still felt that society views people with mental illness ‘very negatively’ or ‘somewhat negatively’. Only 6% said society does not view them negatively at all.
Respondents who reported having had a mental disorder in the past year were more likely to say that society has a negative view of people like them.
Adults aged 65 and older were the most likely to believe that people disapprove of mental illness, while young adults aged 18 to 29 were the most likely to think that society views mental illness more positively.
The cost of treatment is a major barrier to mental health care
Mental health care is too expensive. That is the main factor that respondents believe would prevent them from seeking care for such a condition. Difficulty finding a provider was the second most common reason. Respondents were allowed to select more than one reason; other choices included coping with the condition without treatment, shame or embarrassment, and not thinking treatment would help.
People aged 18 to 29 and those who recently had a mental illness were the most likely to say treatment is unaffordable. People age 65 and older were the least likely to say that shame or embarrassment would prevent them from seeking treatment for a mental or emotional health condition. Respondents who had not recently suffered from a mental health condition were slightly more likely to say that they could cope with such a condition without treatment.
“To effectively meet the behavioral health needs of Americans and their families at different stages of life, health care providers, providers, policymakers, payers and patients themselves must work together to reduce barriers to care,” Lash said in the press release. “There are still significant numbers of people who are not getting the treatment they need – a situation that can only worsen as the population ages.
“Effective approaches, including integrated and person-centered models of behavioral health care that deliver services through clinics or community-based organizations, must be more fully utilized to ensure that people can get the care they need, where and when they need it.”
If you need immediate mental health care, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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