The mental health crisis in the United States is palpable in the years following the COVID-19 public health crisis. We see it in the research, the CDC recently announcing a spike in levels of sadness among teen girls 21% higher in 2021 than in 2011. We see it in schools, where suicidality is at record-highs in middle and high schools, and where students are placed on months-long waiting lists to see school therapists– that is, if their school even provides the service. And finally, we see it in our everyday lives, 90% of United States adults reporting that they have taken notice to the mental health crisis in this country based on personal experience and national trends (CNN, 2022). Among the most notable concerns among everyday Americans were the opioid epidemic, severe mental illness in adults, and significantly increased mental health needs among children and teens (CNN, 2022).
Worst of all, clinicians are reporting long waitlists and rates of burnout unparalleled by any past crisis. If a potential client does locate a therapist, there may be a chance that it is just too expensive, or perhaps their health insurance does not cover mental health treatment. Poverty and/or lack of health insurance further complicate mental health needs, sometimes pushing mental health treatment to the bottom of the totem pole of priorities that someone living in poverty must do simply to meet basic needs.
This is where Open Path comes in. Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals who are financially in-need, individuals who do not have health insurance, and/or individuals whose health insurance does not cover mental health treatment. In order to join, an individual must pay a one-time $65 fee, after which they can browse Open Path’s therapist directory and select a professional of their choosing. Open Path therapists must charge between $40-$70 for individual sessions and between $40-$80 for couple or family sessions. If these rates continue to be a stretch for some, individuals can select a student intern therapist for a rate of $30 per session.
I believe Open Path is providing wonderful opportunities for individuals to access mental health treatment who otherwise may not have been able to. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about Open Path or join as a member, please visit: https://openpathcollective.org/. Further, if you are a therapist and are passionate about providing financially accessible mental health services, it is free to complete the application and be listed in Open Path’s therapist directory. To access the application, please visit: https://openpathcollective.org/open-path-therapists/application-full/?ref=26681 .
Leave a Reply