Slipping Through the Cracks

     I never really understood the idea that someone could just "slip through the cracks" of the mental healthcare system. Sure, I saw stuff on TV and had class discussions about people slipping through the cracks of the mental healthcare system, but I never really understood how that was possible. I always wondered how it was possible for an entire person, one that may be exhibiting severe symptoms, or one that is actively seeking help from a mental health profession, could just float under the radar or just sort of get lost somewhere along the way in the system.
     I was naïve or an idealist about the whole thing, I guess. I saw the number of community mental health agencies, the number of private therapists out there, and the things like that, and I thought that meant it was easy to get treated. Then when I sought out mental health services, I saw the number of people that needed the same services that I needed. That number was larger than I thought it would be.
     So many people ask for help. They seek out the community mental health agencies in their area, or soldiers and veterans get sent to the VA inpatient or outpatient mental health services. A few people can even make it to the private therapists. Yet, people still "slip through the cracks" in the system. They go untreated or they just get psychotropic medications from their primary care physician instead of a psychiatrist, and sometimes that doesn't help them.
     I finally saw first-hand how easy it was to slip through the cracks in the mental healthcare system. I chose to go to a community mental health agency because they took my insurance, and even if my insurance stopped paying for treatment, I could afford to pay since they had a sliding scale for payment. I also heard from people in treatment there explain that if you didn't work, they wouldn't charge for services. People flocked to these community agencies because they had no other options because of the cost of care. That meant these places were full. Therapists were doing everything they possibly could, and they were still short on time.
     I was able to be seen by my therapist once a month or every 3 weeks for 45 minute sessions. (With OCD I should have been seeing a therapist once a week.) I was doing well until I woke up some days and I wasn't doing well that day. Those days were quite frequent. I was on a cancellation list, but just because I was on a list didn't mean anyone was actually cancelling their appointments. I could also call my therapist and leave a message, but I could end up waiting up to 48 hours for a callback, while I was having some kind of crisis. It wasn't the fault of the agency because they just didn't have adequate resources to provide better treatment. They're literally doing the best they can with what they have.
     It was a scary thing when I realized that I could have easily just slipped through the cracks like so many other people struggling with a mental health condition. I didn't, but I know that I'm lucky. I know plenty of people do everyday, and I know a great many of those people just can't find or can't afford better treatment.
     I'll end with this: It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to actually work through clinical mental health conditions like Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, or PTSD on your own. I know financial issues are huge for mental health, but that's the very reason that community organizations are willing to work with people on payment. If your sessions with a therapist are spaced out like mine were, hang in there. Don't stop going just because it feels like it takes forever. It's also okay to call a crisis center, or to call your therapist, or any member of a support system that you have when you need help.