One of the things that bothers me about mental health care is the people around the world that don’t get the help for whatever reason. The ones who slip the system because are not seen by the right doctor, the ones who get improperly diagnosed or the ones who don’t feel they can ask for help. But the worst case of mental health neglect is those people that need help but simply can’t financially afford to get specialist help, those are the people I am most upset about and it is for all those people who don’t get the help they need why Battle of Mind was created and we hope to offer guidance on how to find a path to healing regardless of personal circumstance or living location.
In this blog post we share a video of a poet discussing his experience of his friend and his own mental health care due to one thing, money.
Neil Hilborn clearly shows the impact of money on good mental health
Neil Hilborn delivered a beautiful and moving spoken-word poem called “Joey” about depression, suicide, and what it takes to get help. He shows how being able to afford health care is different for different people.
For some it doesn’t seem much money to seek therapy but for the many who have very little income it is so expensive and incomprehensible to pay so much money. They’d have to go without food or a roof over their heads so their ill health is the last of their worries even though it should be the first.
Income can be so different for so many depending upon so many factors and unfortunately, the reality is that the difference in finances can be the difference between life or death.
In the USA alone over 15 million American adults suffered a major depressive episode in 2013 a place where health care isn’t free.
The UK, known for its health care system is free by and large for medical treatments but after the founder experienced the reality of the health care system, being offered anti-depressants and 5 hours CBT training after waiting 4 months to see a mental health care specialist it was quite clearly NOT as free for mental care as it was for physical health and the therapy he did seek wasn’t on the NHS ( National Health Care System ) and when adding all the therapies together wasn’t cheap.
It is our belief at BoM that good health of both body and mind should be accessible for everyone regardless of who you are and where you come from and we will continue to develop blogs, videos and more to try and help you find your way to better health and give some motivation to get back to full fitness.
If you have a few minutes to watch the video, scroll down. It’s worth your time because Hilborn is such a moving performer. If after watching this video you feel you need to talk to someone please see your GP or contact one of the numbers below who will be so happy to help.
$75 shouldn’t be the difference between life and death.
If you’re in crisis or having suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help.
Here are some numbers if you need to talk to someone ASAP.
USA : – You can call The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at (800) 273-TALK (8255). You can also visit the website for an online chat option.
UK : – The Samaritans are always ready to listen on 116 123.
Ireland : – The Samaritans are always ready to listen on 116 123
Portugal : – Friendship phone will always be there for you to speak to on 22 832 35 35
Italy : – Please contact The Samaritans on 800 86 00 22
Greece : – Please contact Γραμμή παρέμβασης για την αυτοκτονία on 1018
Here are other numbers on suicide prevention website incase you are from another country than listed here.
Please seek help, things can get better.
http://suicideprevention.wikia.com/wiki/Europe