Even though the world is slowly returning to normalcy (or the new normal, if you will), there’s still a far way to go from here, after more than two years of lockdowns and living in fear.
Even if you were lucky enough to have been safe and sound throughout this time, there’s definitely been a few rough patches along the way, which could have resulted from a number of reasons – staying indoors with no social interaction, living in close quarters with friends and family for way too long, being stuck alone in a city far from home all by yourself, losing your family or loved ones, losing your job or other money problems – whatever your worries maybe, there’s a way to work through it and you don’t have to do it alone.
Mental health therapy may sound like something you can never afford to have on a regular basis, but there’s a way to fix this issue too. Here are some of the ways in which you can afford to take care of your mental health, without it being a strain on your pocket. Let’s get started right away.
Insurance covers mental health
If you refer to detailed and reliable sources of insurance information such as Policy Scout, you’ll quickly figure out that there are some types of health insurance that fully cover mental health costs as well.
For example, Medicare is one such insurance policy under which individuals can obtain insurance for the original medical benefits, along with additional benefits that include mental health treatment, hearing, dental, and vision.
Additionally, if your mental care treatment requires you to be on prescription drugs, you can avail these too under one of the sections (Part D) of the Medicare plan.
Here are some of the symptoms which make your eligible for undergoing mental health treatment, after you get diagnosed by a doctor:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Insomnia
- Lack of energy
- No interest in anything you used to enjoy
- Social withdrawal
- A tendency to isolate
- Weight loss
- Feelings of depression and extreme loneliness
Search for private therapists
Mental health care therapy can be an expensive affair, especially if you’re meeting with a professional from a corporation.
However, there are a number of licensed mental health therapists whose pricing starts from around $10 an hour, which is much more affordable than many other places which charge an hourly rate of $300 and upwards.
Additionally, ever since the pandemic started, there are also many therapists who are available for online therapy sessions; which is also usually more affordable than going for therapy in person, because you’ll also be saving the money spent on commuting and food, especially if your nearest therapist lives a city away.
Support group therapy
Depending on your diagnosis and the severity of your problem, you can also consider signing up for support groups.
These groups are meant to help people who are all struggling with similar issues (loneliness, heartbreak, loss, mental stress, pain, sadness, etc), and are led by non-professional facilitators.
The group is meant to provide a strong support system for all the members, while also giving everyone a chance to openly discuss their problems and burdens.
The good thing about such groups is that not only do you build a strong community and get a sense of support from the rest of your group members, but the price is usually ½ to ⅓ of the charge of individual therapy.
However, do keep in mind that if you’re uncomfortable in a group setting, or have problems that require more intense care, you can always opt to go for individual therapy which is covered by insurance.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg.
