BATON ROUGE, La (BRPROUD) ––– Everyone struggles with their mental health at some point in their lives, but barriers often prevent people from getting the help they need.
According to the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI)one in five American adults experiences a mental illness each year, but more than half of those with a mental health condition received no treatment in the past year.
Many groups, like NAMI, are working to remove barriers to mental health care. “Breaking down barriers means that people who are predisposed to mental health conditions, or who are already vulnerable in our communities, will be able to receive the right mental health support,” says Tatiana González, director of state and advocacy programs for NAMILouisiana.
“Baton Rouge has come a long way in addressing barriers to mental health care,” Gonzalez says, but there is still more work to be done.
BRProud’s Zach Labbé sat down with Wren Hyatt, who spoke candidly about his experience managing his mental health. Hyatt attempted suicide at the age of 14 and has been fighting some of those barriers to treatment ever since.
Reflecting on a more recent stay at a mental health facility, Hyatt says, “I wasn’t worried about how I was going to be treated… I was worried about the money, and that really sucks.”
The cost of care is a common barrier that prevents many from seeking help. NAMI Louisiana appointment that of the 194,000 adults in Louisiana who did not receive the mental health care they needed, 48.1% did not because of cost.
“Sometimes your insurance may not cover it, or even if it does, not only is it not that affordable,” says the founder of the You Are Not Alone Project Chelsea Borruano. she said with 8.9% of people in the state without insurance, the cost is quite substantial.
With no way to pay for proper care, some never get the help they need. “Barriers are the reason people end up in the justice system or in emergency departments or homeless,” Gonzalez says.
One in four people with a serious mental illness has been arrested, and of the more than 3,000 homeless people in Louisiana, one in five lives with a serious mental illness.
If you can afford the cost of care, you face the possibility that no one will be immediately available. “There are a lot of different options out there. It’s just that most people now have waiting lists,” says Borruano.
But once you get in with someone, you may find that you don’t connect with them. “I’ve tried and failed with a couple of therapists,” says Hyatt.
“Just like with your regular doctor or primary care doctor, sometimes you have to try one and say it’s not the perfect fit, so I’ll have to try again. And the same goes for their mental health,” says NAMI Louisiana Executive Director Lashonda Williams.
Going through the process again can be difficult if you are already struggling. “That can definitely be an impediment. If you try one that doesn’t work, are you really willing to go through it again? Because it’s not easy,” says Borruano.
But it is an unfortunate part of the process. “Don’t think it means something about you or that you’re beyond help or anything like that. No one is, as long as you’re willing to seek help,” says Hyatt.
Another barrier that prevents people from seeking help is the fear of how others will think of them. “They could have helped me a lot sooner if my parents weren’t so scared about the possibility of their child having a mental illness,” says Hyatt.
“Stigma definitely plays a role in people even admitting there is a problem,” says NAMI Louisiana Executive Director Lashonda Williams. She adds, “they are embarrassed to be labeled or looked at in a certain way.”
Sometimes different cultures stigmatize mental health. Gonzales says, “We know that specific communities, the African American, Black, Hispanic, and Latinx community have cultural barriers that make mental illness more stigmatized. I say this because I am Latina, so I have been there in those shoes of cultural barriers that prevent our community from seeking help. She says, “It’s so important that communities that are already marginalized can access mental health and be empowered to know that they’re not alone… if we talk about this as a community, we can all heal together.”
“Going through this just sucks, and it’s really, really hard…don’t be ashamed to fight back,” says Hyatt.
“Taking care of your mental health means that you will be able to assist your family or loved ones. You will be able to have a stable job or be a stable member of your community,” says Gonzales.
Finding the right resources isn’t always easy, and there isn’t much awareness of your options. Borruano said that when he needed help, he had to search endlessly to find contact information. “I think if I had been directed to one more website, I probably wouldn’t have answered the phone.” But there is an effort underway to make it easier.
The Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative is creating a comprehensive database of resources for mental health and substance use disorders in the East Baton Rouge Parish. “To the best of our knowledge, it will be the first all-encompassing database of behavioral health providers, organizations and services in our community,” says Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative Director Jared Hymowitz. That database will launch later this year.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, consider the following resources:
Lifeline for suicide prevention: 1 (800) 273-TALK
NAMI Crisis Hotline: 1 (800) 237-8255 or text NAMI for 741741
NAMI Information Line: 1(800) 950-NAMI
NAMI Louisiana: Dedicated to eradicating the stigma, myths, and misconceptions of mental illness, improving the quality of life for all affected by these illnesses, and supporting recovery.
You Are Not Alone Project: A nonprofit organization dedicated to building an ongoing support network for mental health and wellness in Baton Rouge and beyond so that no one feels alone.
Louisiana Mental Health Association: cares for people who have been treated for a mental or emotional disorder and/or substance abuse, with a special focus on the adult population with serious and chronic mental illnesses.
One stop: Essential services for the homeless, all under one roof.
Capital Area Human Services: Public service provider for mental health, addictive disorders and developmental disabilities services.
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