The High Costs of Mental Health Care: A Barrier, A Burden and a Call to Action

​By Bart Magee, P.h.D.

A major barrier to accessing mental health care has always been stigma. Thanks to successful advocacy efforts and a cultural shift surrounding mental health, the stigma associated with seeking treatment has gradually diminished. That’s something to celebrate. At the same time, it highlights today’s most pressing issue: the high cost of treatment remains a barrier for too many people. This requires urgent action and Access Institute is leading the way on multiple fronts. Here’s an update:  
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Why do costs remain so high? Supply and demand are way out of balance. Therapy is increasingly viewed as essential not only for those struggling with mental health disorders, but also as a valuable resource for personal development, increasing demand. On the other hand, the education and training pipeline for mental health professionals has not grown significantly.

Another culprit is insurance companies who keep reimbursement for treatment low. Despite a federal mental health parity law enacted over 15 years ago, insurance plans still limit coverage for mental health treatment.

Those who do manage to begin therapy often cannot afford to keep going. A 2022 survey of 1,000 adults in therapy from Verywell Mind, found that seventy percent of people either limited their sessions or temporarily suspended treatment to due to cost and almost half were worried about continuing to pay.

This is why I’m proud of Access Institute and the work it does every day to remove the cost burden and make care accessible and affordable to all San Franciscans.

​Demand for our low-fee services continues to grow. Calls to our intake line jumped by 55% this year and remain at a high volume. Callers are reaching out seeking individual therapy, couples' treatment, psychological assessment and psychiatry services.

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