TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — According to the National institute of Mental Health, about 1 in 5 adults in the United States – 21% of the population – is living with a mental illness and mental health issues among children and adolescents have skyrocketed in recent years, with an estimated 1 in 6 children annually experiencing a mental health disorder.
But there is a growing crisis: While the demand for mental health treatment is on an upward trajectory, there is a shortage of mental health care providers.
There was a week that happened where I just had the worst anxiety I ever had. Could not go to work because of it, and I didn't know what to do. I didn't have a psychiatrist either at that point. "So....So, I was having terrible anxiety. I wasn't sleeping or eating for a week, essentially, because I just couldn't, I couldn't, I couldn't focus. The mind was racing kind of thing with anxiety." a local resident who goes by "Kat". "I went to a hospital because I had a lot of anxiety, and I wasn't able to really sleep or eat for a couple of days and I never dealt with this much anxiety."
Their first experience turning to a hospital wasn't so pleasant. "I went to the hospital in hopes that maybe they could give me something to calm down and whatnot, because I mean, where else was I going to go," Kat shares. "Obviously, when you when dealing with mental illness, you are grouped in the same waiting room, obviously, as everyone else's. So, you know, someone that's got a physical ailment might be more likely to be seen first than someone with a mental illness because it's not something that you can really grasp with tests or anything. It's something that you're dealing with. I was there for about 5 hours and they kind of just kept going back and forth. I was never seen by like a like a psychiatrist or a therapist or a mental health professional within my first night and they were very helpful. They tried to help me giving me like certain medicines to help calm me down, but it didn't really work and so I went home and then days later I'd went again."
The National Council for Behavioral Health reports that 77 percent of counties across the country have severe shortages of behavioral health professions. Many who desperately need support are being left out in the cold. " So, there are not enough mental health care workers in this town," Karen Petersen, Director of Develpment at Wellstone shares." There's a mental health care shortage all across the country so, you know, you will probably have some wait times and there are a lot of wait times across town in general for the mental health care and substance abuse space so that could be frustrating, but things are getting better."
Monretta Vega of Huntsville Psychotherapy and Counseling Services also has seen the frustration clients. " There is a high demand for a life coach, social worker and a therapist, a psychiatrist as well and so you may run into some hiccups when you're looking for one but continue to try because it's important." Vega also suggest those looking to exhaust all options, like asking to be put on a cancelation list. "The thing about it is, if you're placed on a cancelation list, if there is a cancelation, which maybe same day, they will call you and let you know and if you are available for that time frame, you can go on that day. So, there's a couple of ways for you to still get on a schedule, but don't give up. You just want to keep trying."
Petersen hopes those who are experiencing a waiting period to lose hope. "It's just important to know that you are not alone, and help is available. At Wellstone, we just want to give you hope because recovery is possible, and you just can't lose that glimmer of hope and if you start to lose it, just know that there are people around you who will shine a light for you."
WellStone Emergency Services (WES) is a 24/7/365 facility for assessment, referral and treatment for individuals with mental health and substance use disorder crises. WES’ purpose is to provide crisis care access for North Alabama residents who are on the journey to recovery, regardless of how they arrive. Learn more about WES.
For access to care for you or a loved one, call 256.705.6444, Option 1.
WES is located at 4020 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, AL 35802.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255. You can find a list of additional resources here.