World Mental Health Day: Reducing stigmas and workforce challenges facing the industry
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- World Mental Health Day is Oct. 10 and it's used to raise awareness about mental wellness and reducing social stigmas.
Experts say it's an important reminder to check in on your own mental health and note if you are struggling - it's okay to ask for help or support. The anniversary comes as more Americans are seeking mental health treatment, yet many still face barriers to accessing care.
"I think in prior years, mental health disorders have not been looked at as real in some ways and I think modern society is starting to realize the very real consequences of having mental health problems," said Dr. Shanda Wells, UW Health psychologist and manager of behavior health & primary care.
The percentage of adults getting care increased from 19.2% in 2019 to 21.6% in 2021, according to a report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The most recent data from 2021 shows 859,000 adults have a mental health condition in Wisconsin.
Dr. Wells believes social stigmas about mental health are improving, but acknowledges more work still needs to be done. For example, social media platforms can be beneficial in fighting stigmas with posts raising awareness and celebrities opening up about their own struggles on TikTok and Instagram, Wells said.
"The young people on those platforms are really embracing talking about their mental health issues instead of keeping them a secret. That's really the first step to destigmatizing things," Wells said. "There's no reason to feel uncomfortable or taboo talking about something many of us experience."
The COVID-19 pandemic also put mental health in the spotlight. Mary Kay Battaglia, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) in Wisconsin, said the pandemic had a "silver lining" on decreasing stigmas but also put a burden on an already struggling workforce that's gotten worse since COVID-19.
While it's great more people are seeking treatment, Battaglia said too many patients are stuck on waiting lists or simply without access to mental health care.
"As people are becoming more aware of their mental health, they are reaching out to therapists and case workers, but there's a limited number of people in that field right now," said Battaglia.
More than 2.1 million Wisconsinites live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals, NAMI reports. The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute found 55 of Wisconsin's 72 counties have "significant shortages" of psychiatrists.
About a third of Wisconsinites diagnosed with a mental health disorder were unable to receive care, 37.3% of those said it was because of costs, and about 6% were uninsured, according to NAMI's latest data.
Battaglia said reforms are needed to bolster the workforce and address health parodies, especially insurance companies that rule out mental illness disorders.
"We need to advocate for legislative changes," said Battaglia. "There's a lot of policies that exclude mental illness as a part of your overall well-being. I think advocating for that at the workplace, as well as with local leaders, to treat mental health as your overall health is very important."