Here we are at the end of 2021 and all I can say is we survived. March 2020 threw out whole world upside down and I feel we are still playing catchup. I personally feel like the last 2 years have been a blur and for my it’s not in a good way. My own personal mental health has been at the lowest it has been in years. I have switched from med to med and even switched doctors thanks to medical insurance changing this year. Anyone who has switched mental health providers knows what a pain that can be. Which is where this post title comes in. Our Mental Health System in the United States is broken and I don’t see if getting fixed anytime soon, unfortunately.
I know the mental health intake system varies from place to place but here in Tucson, Arizona it’s horrendous. Once you can find a facility that takes your insurance be prepared to wait 3-9 months for that initial intake. Oh and while you are waiting you do not receive any support. We do have a local crisis center but the one time I talked to them they were not helpful. Which is why they have a 1.7 star rating on google. This is one way the system is broken.
For some individuals seeking help is a huge step and takes a lot of courage and in 3-9 months they might not have the courage anymore and the cycle continues. My problem was I needed to switch providers because my old facility didn’t take my new insurance and I couldn’t afford self pay even though I loved the facility. Which my old facility could only write a script at my last appointment for 3 months which wasn’t enough time to get me to my new facility and because I changed facilities there was no bridge offered to me so I was out of luck and meds. Yet another way the system is broken.
So you finally make it to your intake appointment and you answer every personal questions and revel all your inner most thoughts to this new stranger that has a piece of paper saying you can trust them. Than they make a guess on a medication they fee will help you. If this is your first time you hope it is the help you need. Otherwise you get told you are on the right path and they write you a scrip for the same medication you have been on.
In my experience once you get to a status quo with your mental health you get pushed aside. Aside from your median reviews every 3 months there is little help for you. If you are one of the lucky ones to find a therapist in your area count your blessings. I haven’t been able to find a therapist in my area for over 3 years. They tell you that seeing a therapist and medication management is the best way to combat mental health. But most facilities only provide medication management and your own your own with the other.
I know that I have drug on but I truly want to show you that when your hanging up that phone from the 4th facility your trying to get treatment out know that you are strong for making this step and their system is broke and it’s not you. You are exactly how you need to be and the whole mental health system needs a major overhaul. I know that the current system is to blame for why so many individuals slip through the cracks and it breaks my heart.
“The author is not a mental health professional or doctor and opinions expressed here should not be expressed or implied that they are a replacement for qualified medical or mental health treatment.”
xo
mandy rena
