Overcoming Common Barriers to Mental Health Treatment: What Holds People Back and How to Push Forward

When left untreated, mental health conditions can seriously affect a teen’s emotional and physical health, relationships, and prospects for the future. Yet, barriers to mental health treatment can prevent teenagers from accessing the support they need to recover. 

Understanding these barriers and how they can lead a teen to resist treatment can be the start of knowing how to overcome them. The following are common barriers to seeking mental health treatment.

Stigma: 

Stigma often comes from a lack of understanding or fear. However, feeling judged by others can cause teenagers with mental health conditions to feel “less than,” “unworthy,” “contaminated,” or “disgraced.” As a result, a teen may go to great lengths to avoid being judged, shamed, or exposed for having a mental health condition – and might even resist treatment. Stigma is also associated with a reduction in positive outcomes from treatment.^2,3

Shame:

A teenager can “internalize” stigma, meaning that they turn other peoples’ beliefs about mental health inwards, making them feel ashamed about their mental health condition. They may fear being judged by others, especially their peers, which could prevent them from seeking the mental health support they need.⁴

Mental Health Symptoms:

The symptoms of certain mental health conditions can act as barriers to receiving treatment. For example, a teenager with depression might have a persistent sense of hopelessness, which might lead them to believe that treatment won’t work. 

Additionally, if a teen has received treatment in the past and found it to be ineffective, they might be reluctant to try it again. 

Lack of Understanding of Mental Health Conditions:

Research has shown that many members of the public struggle to recognize the symptoms of mental health conditions and psychological distress. This lack of understanding means that they might not realize when a mental health issue is present or what causes them – meaning they may not seek treatment. Additionally, a lot of the most accessible mental health information can be misleading, suggesting that people might be misinformed about their experiences. This can be a barrier to receiving the right form of treatment.⁵

Limited Support:

When a teen feels like they have no one to turn to, or that the people around them won’t understand or will judge them for what they’re going through, they can feel isolated and lonely. Withdrawal and isolation can become a barrier to treatment as a teen might not feel they “deserve” to get better or may not have someone to guide them towards the right support.⁶

A Lack of Trust in Professionals: 

In recent years, there’s been a drop in public trust in professionals and institutions. As a result of a lack of trust, teens may not want to receive mental health treatment as they might not want to open up and share personal information.^7,8

Additionally, people from certain racial or ethnic groups might not seek treatment if they feel like a professional can’t understand their background, culture, and experiences. This is reflected in studies around groups who seek treatment, with white people being more likely to receive support than Black or Hispanic.⁹

Difficulty Accessing Treatment: 

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, nearly half of the U.S. population lives in areas with a documented mental health resources shortage. Therefore, difficulty accessing treatment can be a major barrier to getting help for many teens. While a lot of families who live in rural areas might struggle to travel for treatment, teens who live in urban areas might be faced with long waitlists. Mental health conditions require timely intervention, so difficulty accessing treatment can be a concern for many families.^10,11

Financial Barriers to Mental Health Care:

The cost of mental health treatment is frequently a major concern for families – and is a barrier to receiving support. Mental health treatment can be costly, and this cost can increase for certain conditions. Additionally, the cost of treatment can lead to people dropping out of treatment when they have not yet fully recovered.¹²

Time Constraints:

Teenagers and parents often have hectic school, work, and recreation schedules. Families may struggle to align assessment and therapy appointment times with their busy lives, which can lead to increased stress and even contribute to mental health symptoms. Therefore, many people report “time” to be a significant barrier to receiving therapy.¹³

Each of these steps can help families push past common barriers to mental health treatment. However, stigma remains one of the biggest obstacles to receiving treatment. While accessing reputable information on mental health conditions and speaking to a mental health professional can reduce stigma, there are some other actions you can take.