Thread by @solomonmissouri

Sooooo a thread about finding a mental health professional

I called my insurance after a traumatic event... Cause I know myself and I know what about to happen

I was told to go to the website and I can go to any of the listed professionals

What they failed to mention is that while I can go not everyone accepts my insurance even though they are on the website

You can go to them... But they might not accept your insurance

Therapy... Is expensive... It can easily cost 300 dollars a month... And that's the floor not the ceiling

Before I could make an appointment... You have to call a subcontractor who only deals with mental health for a referral...

Oh but wait...

You don't actually need a referral... But rather a list that they send you of professionals that... "Might" accept your insurance

The list for zip code 27707 includes 384 professionals who have different specialties

A singular list of 384 people

I narrowed the list down to 30 people ... And that's when it got fun

It's a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers

Is this what you need???? Who knows... It's thirty people.... Have fun

I called the first five... Left two messages... And answered the question "what's wrong with you?" Three times

Me: I see dead people

The next five didn't answer...

The next call was interesting... The receptionist asked me..."would you like to set up a home visit"
Me:

Receptionist : yes we come into your home and we take over all your health concerns

Me: no ma'am...I don't want you in here... No ma'am

I'm only sharing this because...I walk the talk. I'm serious about healing and wholeness. I don't play about my broken pieces

No... I'm gonna go somewhere... And we gonna chop it up just like I did last time... Cause when I'm in my space I feel the need to perform for you cause I'm Southern

The next two don't have openings till September... But their websites say accepting new patients

Three more messages

The next four work for the same center but they only work for the VA system

Three more called from the first list of 30... Brings me to 23 professionals called in a day

I've spent all day doing this

Today was the first day I haven't felt on edge at the mere thought of human interaction (let's go drugs!!!!)

Here's the thing...I know therapists, I know counselors, I know social workers... And it's still this difficult to find care for a person who has insurance, resources, and connections

Now imagine how difficult it is for people who don't have insurance, resources, or connections...

In not discouraged. But I am aware

For as much as we say about people in need of mental health services... Accessibility is complete shit!

Navigating mental health services is completely ridiculous

We can't assign blame to mental health for so many societal issues while the barriers for getting help remain so high

This is wild... statnews.com/2019/06/17/gho…

psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/…