Affordable Mental Health Support
For many people, maintaining good mental health is a top priority, as it has a direct impact on all areas of our lives. With awareness campaigns like Bell Let's Talk, more and more people are realizing the benefits of investing in their mental and emotional well-being.
This has resulted in an increase in demand for counselling and coaching services. However, this increased demand is often met by a lack of available services, especially ones that are affordable and offered in a helpful timeframe. Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Support Wait times in order to access services: at Community Mental Health, there is often a wait time of up to two months for "moderate to severe cases" and no service is provided for individuals who are assessed as falling into the category of "mild disruption". Absence of or limited insurance: while many benefits packages provide some coverage for mental health services, psychologist fees range from $190-220 per 50 minute session. This may be helpful in starting the process, but falls short in fully addressing a need for ongoing support and skill development. Stigma: many people lump mental health services into one category, without realizing that there are many different ways to achieve well-being. They may mistakenly believe that only those with mental health challenges/disorders access these services, without realizing the benefits of being proactive in building skills to maintain good mental health and address life challenges in a healthy way.
There is a focus on mental illness, rather than mental health: many services are targeted towards those with diagnosed mental health disorders, rather than the those who may be struggling, but do not have a formal diagnosis, or those who could simply benefit from additional support and guidance in tackling life's challenges and building emotional well-being. To help address some of these concerns, coaching provides a more affordable support service. Appointments are currently available within 48 hours of booking and sessions are provided by phone or video so that location is not a barrier. |