“You should go to therapy.”
During my time at the University of Minnesota, I’ve heard the phrase repeated often. I’ve certainly heard it more than a 21-year-old would have expected to 50 or even 10 years ago.
Openly talking about therapy and mental health struggles is becoming increasingly common, and people (even cage fighters and politicians) readily talk about their experiences in therapy. Old taboos are being brought down in a way that would have seemed unthinkable in the past. In 1996, for instance, an NMHA survey found that 54% of Americans believed that depression was a sign of personal or emotional weakness. The figure is less than 1 in 4 today.
Simultaneously, measured levels of anxiety and depression have risen significantly – especially among Gen Z. Although some researchers point to differences in survey design and response, evidence seems to suggest an actual increase in anxiety and depression. The COVID-19 pandemic is an easy culprit, but systemic and cultural problems predate it: technological changes, cost of life increases etc. I’m sure the reader has some factor in mind. As a result, therapy has become commonly suggested as a primary form of mental health treatment; it is effective, proven and well known.
However, going to therapy is not something that is accessible to many Americans. For one, therapy fees are high, sometimes around $200-300 per month if not covered by insurance. Uninsured and unemployed households often lack affordable care options, as do small business owners. An available therapist can also be hard to find, leading to waitlists and higher prices. Emphasizing therapy without simultaneous reform risks leaving behind a substantial chunk of Americans.
There’s no easy solution. What we have to do is consider the role we want therapy to play in our society. Should it be part of standard medical care? If so, how can we distribute it more equitably? If not, which more accessible options should be promoted in its place? I’ll leave these questions up to the reader.
Biography: Phillip Ableidinger is a senior at the University of Minnesota studying philosophy and economics.