HOUSTON – The U.S. Surgeon General says our country is experiencing a crisis of behavioral health issues.
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A lot of times, people know that they want help, but they just think it’s inaccessible to them.
“I mean, across the country there is a national shortage of behavioral health clinicians, the shortage is worsened by the fact that many behavioral health clinicians don’t actually take insurance,” explained Dr. Melanie Melville, Associate Chief of Clinical Services Behavioral Health, Legacy Community Health.
At Legacy Community Health, they see the problems in accessing health care and they’re working to close that gap no matter if it’s for physical or mental health.
“We have a very robust team of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and integrated behavioral health consultants who provide care to our communities, and we take almost every insurance,” Dr. Melville said.
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Many insurance plans will pay for mental health care but even if you don’t have insurance, the clinic offers sliding scale fees.
“If you are someone who has very few resources, you can pay as little as $20,” Dr. Melville said. “If you are someone who has resources but simply doesn’t have insurance, you would pay as much as $80.”
That’s significantly less than the average $200 per session or up to $3,000 for psychiatric testing. Plus, it might be more convenient than you realize. In-person sessions for adults, children and adolescents are available onsite at their 57 campuses. Telehealth is an option too, meaning you speak to an expert over the phone without taking as much time off of work or school.
“One in seven children meeting criteria for a mental health disorder before they turn 18,” Melville said.
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She says it’s important to recognize when depression, anxiety, bipolar or other behavioral health issues run in families. Recognizing the symptoms and getting help can prevent a lifetime of issues.
