The Mental Health Crisis Has Become an Epidemic

Over the last couple years, the decline in collective mental health has become an epidemic. Before the COVID-19 global pandemic, millions of people around the world suffered from various mental illnesses including, but not limited to depression and anxiety.

Now, the numbers have skyrocketed to an alarming number, causing concern that we’re now facing a worldwide epidemic. It’s past time for taking action.

The repercussions of untreated mental health issues are causing both mental and physical concerns for many people worldwide.

For instance, lack of sleep can lead to insomnia, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even heart attacks. There are numerous people who are now looking to work with a professional sleep therapist with the proper license and CEU accreditation.

Underlying issues have been amplified, from previous obsession compulsion disorder to no longer having the capacity to leave their house. Due to stay-at-home orders and countrywide lockdowns, people had to find other ways of being able to find suitable therapy.

Companies such as Talkspace and Betterhelp have taken virtual therapy to an extremely attainable level. Through online applications, people can access round the clock therapy through talk, text, and virtual sessions.

However, the cost is rather expensive for someone who may not have insurance due to job loss. While some of these platforms do accept insurance, they’re new platforms that do not have wide access to many insurance types.

In the United States, Congress provided relief packages estimated at around $2 trillion, but only $425 million was provided towards mental health resources.

Various mental health organizations came together to ask Congress to provide $38.5 billion in emergency funding to protect current treatment programs and facilities along with an additional $10 billion for pandemic-related response funding.

Countries around the globe are taking steps towards configuring ways to lower the numbers and provide adequate preventative care. Bangladesh, for instance, implemented the National Mental Health Strategy 2020 to 2030.

According to a recent report, their goal is to establish “a comprehensive, inter-sectorial, integrated, and responsive system to ensure access to and utilization of quality mental health and psychosocial wellbeing services and information.”

The idea is that the mental health epidemic will not be solved until we address the underlying socioeconomic issues. Individuals need to be provided with adequate living standards to prevent mental health care from being an exclusive treatment option for only people who can afford it.

Other countries like Europe have universal healthcare, meaning there is significantly more access to a full range of treatment options. It is at the expense of the taxpayers as a whole, rather than solely relying on the financial stability of the individual needing treatment.

The coronavirus also had an alarming spike in mental health issues arising in adolescents. According to the New York Times, suicide attempts rose by 51% in young girls during the pandemic, whereas the number rose to 4% in boys.

Surgeon general Dr. Vivek H. Murthy wrote a 53-page report on the subject. He states that through elements of social media and popular culture, adolescents are substantially more susceptible to feelings of lack of self-worth.

“That comes as progress on legitimate, and distressing, issues,” said Dr. Murthy in an interview with the New York Times. “Issues like climate change, income inequality, racial injustice, and the opioid epidemic feel too slow.”

Doctors and advocates such as Dr. Murthy are advising that there needs to be a change in how resources are allocated when addressing mental health challenges. They need to be understood and can’t be done unless the proper funding is provided.

Mental health is key to the overall health and wellbeing of our world.

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