Today, mental health is a topic that’s been widely discussed, allowing sufferers to address their mental health issues without getting judged by the people around them. However, because of the advent of social media, the recently experienced pandemic, and societal trends that have changed the way people think and feel about themselves resulted in the rise of mental health problems around the globe.
Seeking professional help from mental health specialists can help you recover from your illness. With the prescribed medication and therapy, you can focus on healing. But, while the world is becoming more aware of many mental health issues, there are still sufferers who are skeptical about seeking therapy.
To understand why this happens to some and how you can help a friend overcome this fear, here’s a guide you can refer to.
The Role Of Therapy In Addressing Mental Health Concerns
Therapists are the ones you can talk to regarding mental health concerns. During therapy, you can openly discuss your feelings and thoughts in a safe, non-judgmental, and confidential space. This way, you can learn new ways to cope up with your feelings and thoughts.
The Fear And Stigma Surrounding Therapy
Many people think a patient suffers from a severe mental health problem when therapy is involved. However, this is a big misconception about undergoing therapy. You can always talk to therapists if you think random negative thoughts have been bugging you and you lack sleep.
There’s nothing wrong with therapy. It’s actually one way to demonstrate your care for yourself and your well-being.
The Cost Of Therapy
Therapies might sound intimidating to those who think it’s expensive. But you should remember that mental health has equal importance to your physical health.
Many would ask why talking to a therapist could be so expensive when it’s only a conversation between a patient and a psychotherapist. Well, these trained professionals are licensed with at least six to eight years of experience in the field.
Do a simple background check on your potential psychotherapist to get the most out of your money. Check if they have been to training, have a master’s, or even a Ph.D. This way, you will know if you’re getting the best service out of your payment.
Moreover, health insurance can help you save money on medications. For instance, you can cut your costs for antidepressants in generic and brand-name forms with insurance (e.g., Prozac drug pricing without insurance is $618.08 on average).
Prices for prescription drugs vary, but those looking to pay less for essential medication can utilize discount cards, seek patient assistance programs, and discuss further alternatives with a healthcare provider.
Mental Health Insurance
When you purchase a health insurance policy, you could also check if mental health care is covered. If you want to avail greater protection, check if they have coverage to suit your needs. Basically, the mental healthcare coverage would depend on the type of health insurance you have. Here’s a guide to help you learn more about the types of mental health insurance.
⦁ Individual Plans
You can purchase insurance policies on your own. They are called individual plans. Whether federally funded or state-managed, these plans may include mental healthcare services, and substance use disorder services, among many others.
⦁ Employer-Sponsored Plans
You will be entitled to health insurance if you work in a company with over 50 employees. While these insurance policies are not mandated to cover mental healthcare, many self-insured companies provide insurance that covers mental healthcare.
⦁ Government Programs
Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance (SCHIP) are all government programs that cover mental healthcare. Medicaid is a state-run plan with varied requirements per state. Meanwhile, SCHIP is for low-income households whose children are ineligible for Medicaid. Lastly, Medicare is a federal health insurance covering inpatient and outpatient mental health services, therapies, and medications for insured individuals.
Benefits of Seeking Therapy
Consulting a therapist has many benefits. Here are a few of them that you shouldn’t miss.
⦁ Access to Specialists
Different mental health issues require care from specialists like psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists. By allowing yourself to seek support from any of these experts, you can guarantee that you will get the help you need from the right people.
⦁ Preventive Services and Early Interventions
When you’re not resistant to the idea of seeking therapy, you can also avail of regular mental health checkups, screenings, and assessments, leading to early detection of the problem; thus, you can receive early medical attention like counseling and therapy sessions.
⦁ Increased Self-Awareness and Personal Growth
When you talk to mental health experts, you will be encouraged to discover more about yourself. They won’t just tell you who you are and what you should do. You will journey through a process of self-discovery, leading to increased self-awareness.
Conclusion
Through coordinating with mental health professionals, you can manage your medications and avail yourself of rehabilitation and support services without worrying too much about people’s judgment. You will be guided throughout the healing and recovery process as you rediscover yourself through self-examination.
