Breaking Down the Barriers to Better Mental Health: SingleCare Partners with Mental Health America to Share Survey Insights and Five Key Steps to Improve Care

May is Mental Health Awareness month, a time that’s dedicated to raising awareness, and identifying resources for those living with mental illness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 crisis triggered a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide as the last two years have taken a toll on millions due to the stress, isolation and uncertainty resulting from the pandemic. Given the short and potential long-term impacts, it's now more important than ever to have a foundation of knowledge regarding mental health and the signs to look for to help. 

For the past seven years, SingleCare, the free prescription savings service that has helped millions of Americans save on their medications, has been a proud partner and supporter of Mental Health America (MHA), the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing mental health needs and promoting the overall mental health for all. MHA is getting “back to basics” for Mental Health Awareness month and is providing a free toolkit with resources to address mental health topics including recognizing warning signs, knowing the factors that can lead to mental health conditions, maintaining mental wellness, and how to seek help. 

This year, SingleCare and MHA partnered to survey Americans to better understand how they perceive mental health and what are the barriers for treatment. Additionally, MHA provided SingleCare with their five expert tips on how people can address their mental health. 

SingleCare & Mental Health America Survey Identifies Affordability as the Greatest Barrier to Mental Healthcare 

SingleCare and Mental Health America surveyed 1,078 U.S. respondents to gain insight as to how they understand mental health and what is impacting their health today and discovered: 

Americans feel they need mental health treatment, however, many are not seeking help. 

• 40% feel as though they need mental health treatment 

• 26% said they have sought mental health treatment as a result of pandemic related anxiety or depression 

• 74% said they’ve considered taking a mental health test or screen

Current events are impacting America's mental health. 

• 39% said the pandemic has had the biggest impact on their mental health over the past year

• Over one quarter (26%) respondents said they’ve either struggled significantly or could use help following the pandemic 

• About 1 in 5 respondents (21%) said they have been affected by mood changes as a result of testing positive for COVID or experiencing symptoms of long COVID 

• 42% said that watching or reading about recent international news has had an impact on their ability to focus on daily tasks 

• Nearly two-thirds of respondents (62%) said the rising cost of inflation rates and rent increases has made a negative impact on their mental health 

Cost is the biggest barrier when it comes to mental healthcare. 

• 80% said that mental health treatment should either be free or provided at a reduced cost through financial assistance by government programs

• 56% of respondents said the cost of therapy and doctor appointments are the biggest barrier when it comes to mental healthcare, with other barriers being:

  • 41% said finding the right doctor/therapist

  • 34% said the cost of medicine 

  • 26% said they don’t know where to start finding care

  • 25% said the negative stigma with mental healthcare 

  • 22% said difficulty finding a therapist / doctor taking new patients 

• Nearly a third (30%) said they’ve skipped either seeing a mental health professional or taking medication due to cost  

• Of those who are currently receiving mental healthcare treatment, 17 % said they have paid at least $101 per visit

“Mental illness is insidious as it's commonly underdiagnosed since most don’t know the signs to look for in themselves and their loved ones,” says Ramzi Yacoub, Pharm.D., chief pharmacy officer at SingleCare. “Making matters worse, many are then faced with expensive treatments leaving them unable to seek the help they need. It’s imperative that those who need treatment can access more affordable options for medication or therapy.”

Mental Health America’s 5 Steps to Address Your Mental Health 

Get informed. 

Mental health refers to our emotional and social well-being and impacts how we think, feel, and behave. It plays a role in connecting with others, making decisions, handling stress, and many other aspects of daily life. Mental health deserves your attention just as much as your physical health does. Learning about the factors that affect mental health and the warning signs of different mental health conditions can help you catch problems early and take action.

Know yourself. 

Not everyone experiences the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions in the same way. It is important to have a sense of how you feel when your mental health is in a good place so you can notice early if things start to change. Take a moment to think about a time when you felt good about your life. What kinds of friendships did you have? What kind of work were you doing? What hobbies did you enjoy? What did your eating, exercise, and sleep routines look like?

Take a screen. 

A screen is a quick, free, and confidential way to determine if you might be experiencing signs of a mental health condition. A screening only takes a few minutes, and after you are finished you will be given information about the next steps you should take based on the results. A screening is not a diagnosis, but it can be a helpful tool for starting a conversation with your doctor or a loved one about your mental health. Visit mhascreening.org to get started.

Practice self care.

Taking care of yourself is critical to prevent your mental health from worsening – factors like nutrition and gut health, stress, sleep, relationships, trauma, and more can contribute to poor mental health. If your mental health is in a good spot, it is a great time to practice coping skills – ways to help you deal with hard feelings – so that you're better able to handle tough times when they happen.

Know when to reach out. 

We all have tough days and weeks and struggling with your mental health doesn't automatically mean you have a mental health condition. However, if you are experiencing changes in your thinking and emotions that are seriously hurting your ability to do the things you want to do; and sticking around longer than they should—sometimes weeks or months—then it is time to get help.

Survey methodology

SingleCare conducted this mental health survey online through SurveyMonkey on Apr. 4, 2022. This survey includes 1,078 United States residents, adults ages 18+. Age and gender were census-balanced to match the U.S. population in age, gender, and U.S. region.