Systemic Barriers in Mental Health

 Mental health issues have surged in the last several years. Sharing crisis hotlines is a wonderful step towards helping others be safe. However, the issue is much more complex than that. In order to truly address mental health issues, we have to speak out about the systemic barriers that prevent victims from accessing and receiving treatment.  

Systemic barriers are policies, procedures, or practices that unfairly discriminate and prevent individuals from participating fully in situations (Tran, 2021). Systemic barriers in mental health mean that certain policies, procedures and practices make it difficult or impossible for individuals to get professional assistance with their mental health needs. These barriers include high cost, lack of support from insurance, lack of programs, and specific stereotypes that are held against individuals with mental health disorders and certain ethnic groups. Adult members from Asian and Black communities  are reported to have more difficulty finding a mental health therapist than White adults (Panchal et al., 2024).

Speaking out and raising awareness is not just about defending someone’s “bad day.” It is about educating ourselves on what causes mental health issues in the first place as well as what allows it to continue. Social Determinants of Mental Health (SDoMH) refer to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These conditions can impact the outcome of mental health (American Psychiatric Association, n.d.).
  
Helping individuals that are held back from receiving treatment due to these systemic barriers could lead companies to change their policies, procedures, or practices. It could also lead to more mental health programs being created. There are several ways you can speak out about changing the current mental health treatment system:

Speaking out Against Policies: 
Support and advocate for legislation that ensures insurance companies cover mental health treatment the same way they do physical health treatment. This includes community funding groups. 

Support Friends and Family: 
The people close to you may be silently struggling with their mental health. Reach out to them and make sure they know you are there for them when and if they need it. Validation and non-judgmental spaces are important because it shows people that their feelings matter and that you care. Positive emotions increase when fear is validated (Kuo, 2022). 

Educating Yourself: 
Make sure to get information from trusted and authorized sources. Understanding mental health and the trauma that comes with it helps you be a better advocate. 

Challenge Social Norms: 
Speak out so workplaces and other companies have no choice but to offer liveable wages, scheduling that does not overwork employees, and mental health benefits. 

Crisis hotlines should not be seen as the primary solution to mental health struggles. Hotlines may save lives in the short term but systems need to be changed in order for lives to be saved in the long term. Educating ourselves on the barriers of cost, accessibility, and policies we can move towards mental health being seen as a right and not an excuse. 


References:
American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). Social determinants of mental health. 
https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/diversity/education/social-determinants-of-mental-health

Kuo, Janice. (2022, May 18). “The who and what of validation: an experimental examination of validation and invalidation of specific emotions and the moderating effect of emotion dysregulation. National Library of Medicine.
 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9116024/
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Panchal, Nirmita. (2024, May 23).  Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health Care: Findings from the KFF Survey of Racism, Discrimination and Health. KFF. 
https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/racial-and-ethnic-disparities-in-mental-health-care-findings-from-the-kff-survey-of-racism-discrimination-and-health/

Tran, Kim. (2021, November 2). Identifying Systemic Barriers to Employment. Daily Work. 
https://daily-work.org/news-events/blog.html/article/2021/11/02/identifying-systemic-barriers-to-employment





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