Jacksonville counselor: Let's move from awareness to action on mental health access

May signifies the beginning of many things — summer is drawing near, students are looking forward to graduation and more of our days are spent outside in the Sunshine State . May also marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month, a testament to the progress we've made in acknowledging and discussing mental health.

It's a time to recognize the need for mental health care and examine what impacts mental health in our communities. However, recent research has shown that while we may be aware of mental health needs and services, access to care remains a challenge .

A re cent Thriveworks study found that 23% of people are either in or have recently been in therapy, and 43% plan to seek it out in the next year. The good news is that counseling has become increasingly available, with many therapists offering in-person and virtual sessions. Various agencies, private practice providers and other clinics in Jacksonville can provide services.

Those who choose telehealth can also seek licensed providers across Florida who accept their insurance. So, if therapy services have become more accessible, what other obstacles would keep people from seeking therapy?

According to the same research, there are various reasons why an individual doesn't seek therapy. About 58% of those surveyed said they didn't feel the need to, while others named various barriers that would keep them from accessing therapy services.

Among the reasons people listed, 25% found cost to be a barrier, 13% noted lack of insurance coverage, 13% noted time constraints and 10% reported not being able to find the right therapist.

While the stigma surrounding seeking mental health care continues to lessen, there are still logistical and physical barriers to care. In Jacksonville and across the state, we can see the impact of mental health professional shortages, statewide insurance restrictions and increased cost of living.

To remedy these barriers, there are multiple things that individuals, communities and the government can do to seek out resources and provide support. Working to find more cost-effective alternative solutions to traditional mental health services can be daunting as an individual, but there are resources out there.

If you are out of work or find yourself without insurance , there are a few options to investigate. Many private practices offer a sliding scale, making sessions much more affordable for individuals. Many nonprofits also provide free or low-cost services for those who qualify for Medicaid.

If your coverage doesn't include mental health services, ask your insurance carrier about negotiating coverage for an out-of-network provider when an in-network one is unavailable.

Cost-friendly services may also be available through local community clinics, county mental health services and local colleges or universities with training programs in mental health counseling or social work. In addition to providing cost-effective solutions, our communities can be an essential support system when we're feeling the impacts of mental health challenges.

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Support your neighbors by checking in on them. If there is a need, communities might also benefit from creating support groups for common shared experiences and in response to local events.

When it comes to government help and support, steps are already being taken. Recently, the Florida Legislature allocated $5 million to create the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce to help with the shortage of mental health professionals . They aim to understand what is causing the shortage and learn how to retain more professionals in the future.

This is an excellent step to encouraging more people to pursue a mental health profession and offer support to their communities.

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As we enjoy May's sunshine, let's also bask in the glow of collective efforts to prioritize mental health . Whether it's reaching out to a neighbor in need, exploring community resources or supporting initiatives aimed at bolstering mental health services, every action counts. Together, we can transform May from merely a month of awareness into a month of meaningful action.

Therapy should become not just accessible but utilized by all who need it in Jacksonville and across the state of Florida. So, let's embrace the beauty of the season while keeping mental health at the forefront of our priorities.

Hallie Kritsas is a licensed mental health counselor with Thriveworks in Jacksonville.

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions .

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville counselor: Let's move from awareness to action on mental health access