Written by Reese Spicer

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Have difficulty concentrating on what people say to you, even when speaking directly to you: Check.

I stared down at the line of checks on the ADHD symptoms questionnaire that my primary doctor had given me before handing it in. The rest of my appointment was per usual – my concerning responses weren’t addressed nor was I referred to a specialist in the field. It was clear that my primary physician wasn’t properly trained to provide care for the complex issue of mental health.

My ADHD symptoms worsened and years passed without a proper diagnosis due to financial struggles. The lack of awareness as to what was causing my difficulty concentrating stunted my ability to succeed in my classes and activities. I struggled to keep up with my strenuous workload before I was tested, leading to a wide array of consequences including sleep deprivation and surmounting anxiety. While annual check-ups with primary care doctors are a routine part of many patient’s lives in America, most likely do not remember the last time they spoke to a psychologist.

The Mental Health Crisis

Annual visits with a primary care physician are crucial to physical well-being. They ensure our bodies are healthy and properly functioning. However, such doctors are not trained to ensure that our mind is healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 77% of adults in the United States have consulted a primary care physician one or more times a year, yet only 19.2% of adults have had any form of mental health treatment. This is significantly lower despite around 46% of Americans experiencing some type of mental illness during their life.

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Living with a mental health illness or poor mental health often comes with negative consequences, especially when not treated. Common mental health illness symptoms include trouble concentrating, excessive fear, worry, or guilt, excessive sadness, and in some cases suicidal thoughts or tendencies. These symptoms can directly interfere with academic and work life, overall straining the quality of one’s life. Furthermore, poor mental health has been statistically linked to poor physical health. Studies show that there is a positive correlation between mental health disorders, such as depression, and chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. This can lead to increased hospitalizations, missed time from work, and a rising cost in medical bills.

A common misconception that leads to a healthcare system which prioritizes physical health is that physical health merits explain the greater number of hospital casualties. However, this is not entirely true. Suicide has become an increasingly common threat. It is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-14 and 25-34 and in the top 9 for ages 10-64. This has resulted in 45,979 deaths from suicide in 2020 alone. According to research, around 90% of all suicides are a result of a mental health illness. One must wonder, how many of these could have been prevented with proper mental health care?

The Roadblocks to Annual Care

Given the importance of receiving this care, it should be expected that everyone would receive regular mental health check-ups. However, this is not the case. While everyone likely has their own reasons, two resounding factors are the financial cost and the social stigma surrounding mental health illnesses and need for professional treatment.

The average cost of mental health care is outside of many families’ budgets, with many psychologists charging 100 to 200 dollars an hour. In effect, this is more than a dollar per minute. The burden of this cost is significantly high in instances when there is little to no insurance coverage. The current law on mental health insurance coverage, as guaranteed by the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, is that mental health care is to be ensured equitable to physical health care when it is included. However, the act does not require insurance companies to include mental health coverage at all, so companies often choose not to. While this is an important step in making mental health more accessible, still around 42% of people struggle to afford mental health care and ⅓ report that these costs are not adequately covered by insurance.

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The next challenge that those seeking mental health care face is the stigma surrounding mental health. Despite recent attempts to destigmatize mental health, many still believe that those struggling from mental health illnesses are incompetent or dangerous. This, in the past, has led to employers not hiring them or landlords refusing to rent out to them . Additionally, individuals begin to internalize these views, which may worsen symptoms and reduce the likelihood of completing treatment. Considering this, it is not surprising that people delay or avoid searching for mental health care out of fear of being treated and viewed differently. Dr. Scott Hall, a professor of clinical mental health counseling at the University of Dayton, states that the stigma around mental health “has contributed to yearly mental health assessments being left out of preventative care.” Therefore, changing such predispositions is fundamental in providing more accessible and supported mental health treatment.

The Benefits of Annual Check-ups

There is no easy solution to these roadblocks as they are deeply ingrained in our societal norms and healthcare system. That does not mean there doesn’t need to be change. If everyone were to check on their mental health, illnesses would likely be caught earlier on and long-term care would increase the likelihood of recovery and having a fulfilling life. Studies show that 70 to 90 percent of people receiving care for a mental health illness have a decrease in symptoms and improved quality of life. Even for those without mental health illnesses, talking through life events and feelings can help individuals better understand themselves and others. The awareness of the need for mental health is known by many doctors, including primary care physician Dr. Dana Corriel, who shared that she believes society overall would benefit from annual mental health visits. Additionally, if annual mental health checkups became a routine part of Americans’ lives, there would be a decreased likelihood that mental health illnesses escalate, and could potentially decrease the large suicide rate. While it’s unlikely everyone would recover, the chance to help many makes this consistent treatment worth it despite the challenges of implementation.

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Finally, by encouraging everyone, regardless of prior history with mental illnesses, to receive care, the stigma would be undermined. According to Racine R. Henry, PhD, a marriage and family therapist in New York City, “if we had yearly mental health evaluations, we would have to vastly change the conversation around mental illness. In short, yearly mental health evaluations will force a normalization of mental illness in a culture which perpetuates the idea that a lack of mental health functioning is a rare, personal problem.” This is a crucial step in changing society’s prejudiced views on mental health. By openly speaking about and consequently normalizing mental health care, the hope is that more people will become educated on the topic and empathetic to those healing.

Edited by Noor Naheed