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The Challenges of Accessing Mental Health Care After Trauma
Explore the hurdles faced by individuals seeking mental health care after trauma. This article delves into systemic barriers, stigma, and personal challenges that hinder access to essential support and resources for recovery.
Facing the Aftermath of an Intrusion
In 2019, while working from home, Lydia Bugg experienced a traumatic incident that would forever change her sense of safety. A man attempted to break into her house, and in a moment of instinctive bravery, she fought him off on her porch by hitting him and screaming, which ultimately caused him to flee. However, the experience left her feeling deeply shaken. “I couldn’t feel comfortable in my house,” she shared. “I really didn’t feel comfortable in public.”
Recognizing the need for professional help, Ms. Bugg decided to seek therapy to address her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A friend warned her that delaying treatment could exacerbate her symptoms. Unfortunately, her search for a therapist in Nashville, where she lived at the time, was met with disappointment. Despite having Blue Cross Blue Shield, the most widely used health care plan in Tennessee, she encountered a frustrating barrier.
Each therapist she approached had the same discouraging message: “The way that Blue Cross Blue Shield pays people doesn’t allow us to actually have the time and resources to help you,” Ms. Bugg recounted. This sentiment highlighted a significant issue within the mental health care system, where therapists in private practice often hesitate to accept insurance due to various constraints. Accepting insurance limits their ability to negotiate better wages, request raises, or be compensated in line with their expertise.
Moreover, despite the federal mental health parity law enacted in 2008, insurance plans are not mandated to cover mental health treatments adequately, leaving many individuals without necessary support.
Undeterred by these obstacles, Ms. Bugg eventually found a cognitive behavioral therapist specializing in PTSD. She described the therapist as “hugely helpful,” which was a relief. However, the financial aspect was daunting; the therapist charged $170 per session. “That was a lot of money for me and my husband at the time,” Ms. Bugg admitted. To manage the costs, she resorted to attending therapy sporadically, only going when her budget allowed it.