Access denied: Opening the door to mental health treatment
- MHAI
- Jan 2
- 5 min read
Updated: 15 hours ago
We have spoken before about the issue of stigma in mental health. Time was that this was the greatest obstacle to individuals getting the support they need. And while stigma can still be an issue – particularly in rural communities – it’s not as much of a problem as it once was.
The American Psychological Association still claims that stigma is too high (and they are absolutely right). However, it also claims that 83% of US adults say that “they are generally comfortable talking about their mental health.”
What’s clear is that progress is being made in terms of social perception of mental health. And yet nearly a third of the 50 million US adults who need mental health support don’t get it. As Dr. Kailyn Bobb from Inner Peace Psychological Care notes, “despite growing awareness of mental health needs, meaningful access to care continues to fall short for many communities.”
If it isn’t due to stigma – why is this number so high?
Accessibility of mental healthcare
The biggest obstacle to care for most Americans is access.
It is not the only obstacle by any means, but access (which largely refers to financial access) has become the most common deterrent to people who need help. In a recent article, Scott Galloway, the American academic, author, podcast host, and entrepreneur, recently made this point.
He makes the case that, “mental health influencers position therapy as a prerequisite for a better life, rendering it a Birkin bag for your feelings (i.e., a luxury good), and position many of life’s obstacles as traumas to be addressed for $200/hour.”
Now, as Scott makes clear, this isn’t a swipe at therapy itself. He is both a user and advocate of therapy. Instead, he’s making the point that:
Not everyone can afford therapy.
Sometimes the issues that need to be "fixed" in people's lives are more simple needs like a livable wage, housing, etc.
It’s this first point – the financial aspect – that is particularly jarring for individuals, particularly those who genuinely would benefit from therapy. This is further underscored by Dr. Bobb, who states that “Access to mental health care is often determined not by need, but by financial privilege,” adding that for many people, paying out of pocket for weekly therapy is simply not realistic.
The cost of access
The financial barrier to mental healthcare is compounded by a nationwide shortage of providers. Even when people are motivated to seek help, they often find themselves priced out or stuck waiting. In many parts of the country, it is not uncommon for therapy sessions to cost $150–$250 per hour without insurance.
For those relying on insurance, the problem doesn’t disappear because many plans offer limited mental health coverage, high deductibles, or narrow provider networks. As Dr. Bobb points out, “having insurance does not guarantee access to care – too many people are covered on paper but unsupported in practice.”
The shortage of mental healthcare workers only intensifies this issue. Fewer providers mean longer wait times, with some individuals waiting more than 100 days to see a specialist. Dr. Bobb puts the reality of this into perspective, warning that insurance barriers to psychiatric medication are not just administrative hurdles, delays and denials “can worsen symptoms and increase risk during periods of acute distress.” In other words, a three-month wait is not just inconvenient, it can be dangerous.
What about speakers of other languages?
Access issues are even more pronounced for communities where language and cultural competency matter. For Spanish-speaking individuals (to take just one example), only about 5% of mental health providers nationwide offer services in their language. And this is for the second most spoken language in the country, never mind the many other languages spoken on a daily basis in the US.
This means millions of people are forced to choose between receiving care in a language they’re not fully comfortable with – or not receiving care at all. As advocates like Daisy Gomez have pointed out, language access is not a “nice to have,” it is fundamental to effective treatment. Dr. Bobb echoes this concern, emphasizing that representation matters, and that people are more likely to seek and remain in care when they feel understood, respected, and safe.
Taken together, cost, workforce shortages, and language barriers create a system where mental healthcare is technically available, but practically out of reach for many who need it most.
Is anything being done to increase access?
While the challenges are significant, there are steps being taken – at least at the state level – to improve access to mental healthcare. In Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker has signed several laws in recent years aimed at addressing some of these systemic barriers.
One of the most notable is the Illinois Health Care Protection Act, which strengthens protections for patients by limiting surprise billing and reinforcing coverage requirements. As Mark Heyrman, attorney and Mental Health America of Illinois board member, has explained, this law helps ensure that people seeking care are not hit with unexpected costs that can make ongoing treatment financially unsustainable.
Another key development is the passage of a Mental Health Parity Bill. Mental health parity laws are designed to require insurance companies to cover mental health and substance use treatment at the same level as physical health care. In practice, this means fewer arbitrary limits, more transparency, and greater accountability for insurers who have historically restricted access to mental health services through higher costs or tighter controls.
Licensed therapists providing access
There are also encouraging examples of providers stepping in to close the access gap themselves. At Inner Peace Psychological Care, a new initiative called Pathways to Peace is designed specifically to address the financial barriers that keep so many people from therapy. The program offers reduced-fee sessions, delivered by a master’s level clinical intern who works under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist.
As Dr. Bobb explains, the goal is to ensure that cost does not determine who gets care. The program is open to Illinois residents who are uninsured, underinsured, students, or experiencing other forms of financial hardship. Initiatives like this show how licensed providers can expand access while maintaining high standards of care – and remind us that affordability and quality do not have to be mutually exclusive.
You can get access to mental health resources!
Access to mental health care should be open to all. While stigma may be slowly receding, financial barriers, workforce shortages, and systemic gaps continue to keep too many people from the care they need.
The good news is that progress is happening, whether policy changes at the state level or providers creating more affordable pathways into care. But awareness and advocacy remain essential. As Dr. Bobb puts it, improving access means looking beyond awareness alone – addressing affordability, workforce shortages, and stigma together so care is available when people need it.
If you or someone you love is struggling, you don’t have to navigate this alone. At Mental Health America of Illinois (MHAI) we help connect individuals to services and tools that make access possible.
Support exists, and it’s worth seeking. Contact us today for more information.