the Informer

As a psychology major, I’ve been exposed to many different aspects of human nature. One of my professors last week said something very interesting that I never even thought about before.

He asked, “Why don’t people have regular mental health check-ups?” Why don’t we visit a psychologist routinely? We go to the dentist every six months and we get a yearly physical. This also doesn’t include any other doctors that we might require.

We visit our physician and dentist regularly even if we don’t feel poorly. It’s become a part of living a healthy lifestyle. Isn’t our mental health also important? Why don’t we visit the psychologist more often?

This could be because of the negative stigma that is associated with “shrinks.” When people hear the words psychologists or psychiatrists, many people immediately jump to a bad connotation of it.

Many use the term “crazy” and believe that there must be something completely abnormal that would warrant a visit. The extremes always seem to be the focus when looking at psychology.

This negative mind set seems to be perpetuated by film and society. I think regular mental health visits should be strongly encouraged. According to “Psychology Applied to Modern Life,” only 15 percent of the United States population seeks mental health treatments.

It also says that people always delay treatment for many years even after they recognize the need for them. The textbook also says that one study shows only 59 percent of people who need mental health services actually seek help. If mental health check-ups became a part of a normal routine these numbers might not be as staggering.

Reasons people seek mental health treatments can include addiction, anxiety disorders, marital conflicts, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, depression, eating disorders, etc.

Not only does the bad stigma that surrounds mental health inhibit people from going and seeking professional help, but cost and insurance can hinder it as well. Not all insurance companies cover mental health services or they require referrals.

Also if you don’t have insurance it can be extremely expensive. Even if you have an insurance company that does cover these visits, they might put a limit on the number of times you can go in a year.

All of these factors are not conducive to allowing people to get the help that they need. On campus students can receive services from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), where the fee is included into with tuition and fees.

In years’ past there used to be a cap on how many sessions students can receive. It was around 10 or 12 visits a year. Their website now says, “while the number of sessions depend on the nature and extent of the problem, students usually engage in 6-8 sessions of counseling or less.”

They have changed to a case-by-case basis. Services like CAPS can be an integral part in helping students adjust to college life and I don’t think students know that they can utilize these services without charge.

The mental health stigma is perpetuating a cycle of people who need help but don’t get it. But by putting psychologist on the same list as dentist, things just might begin to change and more people will get the help they need.