Last Updated on December 26, 2024

Have you ever wondered how accessible mental health resources truly are if you do not have a diagnosis or disabled status?

When the traditional methods, such as venting your frustration, rage and despair on friends and families, do not alleviate your sufferings, how do you usually find professional support? Where do you find support? Government websites? News outlets? Podcasts? Social media? Advertisements? TV Commercials?

Whether you are aware that you are bombarded with marketing terms and compelling sales copy, it doesn’t change the fact that you may have been persuaded to purchase a mental health resource that does not work for you. You wished you could’ve been informed.

For this reason, the purpose of this article is to delve into what mental health resources are and their distribution and suggest ways to make such resources more affordable and available to adults and teams worldwide.

Note: The article includes Canada’s experience because the author has studied and worked in Canada. Please do not overgeneralize the information. Every person and team is unique, so please review relevant services, reach out or submit a business inquiry if applicable/when necessary.

What the post-pandemic mental health field is like

Did you know it was not until the pandemic did the accessibility of mental health resources became a hot topic? As a result, many chose to become “life coaches” or “health coaches” (due to its ease of entry into the mental health field).

Since “life coaching” (and any type of coaching or mentorship) is an unregulated industry, some attempt to give professional advice (which is often based on pseudoscience), while others (e.g., self-taught individuals) offer courses online.

There is a dearth of mental well-being support offered by trained and unbiased mental health professionals on the market. Berelevant Network sees the needs even if most haven’t realized the healthy connection between human skills training and development and growth (both business and personal growth).

Trained mental health professionals include (licensed and not licensed) social workers, community services workers, clinical counsellors, psychologists and all other allied health professionals with one or more degrees, graduate certificates or diplomas.

What ends up happening for a person or group (that is ready to learn and grow at their own pace) is that they often feel overwhelmed by all the tips and hacks provided by unadaptable or untrained agencies or individuals.

Because for those who want to make actionable changes, anecdotes or general guidelines are not relevant. Individuals or teams using the aforementioned services may thus be left in a difficult and paradoxical situation.

The truth is, this could’ve been prevented if organizations (offering mental health resources) and people in the mental health industry value creativity and adaptability more.

The widely Available “Mental Health Resources”

Mental health resources encompass any information disseminated by individuals or organizations that benefits one or more groups in the mental health field.

The widely available mental health resources are generic resources such as the “how-to” articles and videos for adults. For instance, “how to (combat depression, overcome work stress and find happiness at work)” are popular topics. These resources are often free and accessible online, but they are not always relevant to every reader/viewer. Furthermore, the information is often based on personal accounts. Anecdotal evidence, if not dealt with it properly, sometimes can lead to greater confusion.

Although general advice provided by mental health professionals is accessible these days, such information is usually for marketing and informational purposes. That is to say, the purpose is to attract attention rather than provide practical solutions. Strategies such as “comment ___ to get a free ___”, “leave a comment below to receive a ___” and “read ___” or listen to ___’s podcast”.

In summary, the mental health industry has gone from an in-demand industry to one of the fastest-growing industries over the past four years due to a) ease of entry and b) the demand for knowledge of mental health.

How mental health resources are sold

“Charisma” paired with generic guidance is one of the most popular marketing strategies in terms of “selling” mental health resources. If you find yourself purchasing professional or influencers’ books, courses, memberships, classes or coaching sessions not because they are useful to you but because you want to “support them”, you may want to reassess the value of such an investment.

According to a 2018 study, more than 50% of the people around the world were either middle class or rich, which means most people were (and may still be) competing for limited resources. Therefore, understanding how subconscious purchases occur and being a smart buyer helps push for social change.

Ask yourself the following questions to identify whether you are learning from a more generic source:

• Is the information verified? By whom?
• Is the advice reliable (not relatable)? What theory or branch?
• Is the information for general purposes?
• Is the service “free” or it comes with a price?
• What is the service delivery model of this agency or individual? Is it transparent?
• Is pricing and relevant information accessible?
• How to access support? Do they offer after-sales service support?

The Distribution of Mental Health Resources

In this section, mental health resources are services offered by government-funded programs or professional associations, excluding “coaching services (unregulated services)” for adults.

children vs. adults

Overall, mental health resources are relatively available and accessible for the family of a minor under the age of 18 who has received an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis.

In Canada, each province/territory has its legislation regarding the eligibility and how much funding is available to the applicant’s household. The funding may support a full or partial amount of the cost of social services.

Generally, the application includes several steps. Due to supply-demand imbalance, if qualified, the child may be added to the waitlist. In 2019, this wait time reported by several families (unofficial data) was between one year and two years.

Note

In March 2023, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada appointed the Office of Audit and Evaluation to prepare a report indicating that 2% of Canadian children and youth under the age of 18 received early and formal Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses, with males outnumbering females by four to one.

It is worth noting that many medical reports and statistical results have been based on certain ethnicities (e.g., Western Europeans) and gender (e.g., those who are biologically male). The medical attention for females and underrepresented groups may thus be overlooked, resulting in delayed treatment(s).

services for adults with medical Conditions

In general, if you are an adult with any kind of disabilities, who:

• Is from a social welfare state (or country)
• Has one or more formal diagnoses from a specialist or physician
• Meets all the criteria listed by your local government

You would more likely be granted a status, which allows you to have access to social services for free or at a lower rate.

Based on Vivian‘s professional experience, the entire process, from starting an application to waiting for a decision, confused many. In some cases, an “adult applicant” – with a formal diagnosis and a status – could still struggle to receive financial, emotional and social support. On top of that, many authority figures are out of touch.

Besides, the lack of knowledge of health and the ability to articulate experiences or emotions may lead to misunderstanding and miscommunication.

All in all, there’s still a lot of room for improvement, from keeping the social services system relevant and encouraging business collaborations to supporting mental health promotion and awareness.

services for adults without mental Illnesses

Overall, generic mental health resources are often for adults without mental illnesses, whereas professional mental health services are for adults with medical conditions.

What if you are one of those who do not have mental illnesses but want to receive professional services? Learn why Berelevant Network stands out among all other mental health resources.

Do you understand your mental health? When did you last look up a mental health resource? What was the purpose of it? To find a cookie-cutter solution or a real solution?

Can you identify the 3 most effective ways to reduce your stress and how they have changed your daily life? Name the techniques – you heard, read or learned from textbooks, motivational speakers or teachers – and ask yourself if they work for you.

social media influences

If you need quick fixes, influencers, inspirational speakers or life coaches may be what you are looking for. Many of them have enchanted their audiences with their charisma to draw attention. By offering entertaining and eye-catching content, they attract tens of thousands of believers who are looking for generic life hacks and career tips.

However, if you have specific goals, cookie-cutter solutions may not be suitable for you. Working with a trained and unbiased mental health professional or a professional team may be the alternative.

the real engagement

To be more specific, if you are looking for a real change, you may want to consider working with those who have relevant professional training. These individuals or organizations are more likely to provide evidence-based methods driving you towards your success. In other words, the goal of real engagement is to empower you to find answers yourself to a point where you no longer need such services anymore.

If all professionals or organizations are willing to focus less on short-term revenues, it will free up the service availability. The professional mental health resources will then become more accessible.

Democratizing Mental Health Resources is everyone’s Responsibility

Health includes physical, mental and social well-being according to The Constitution of the World Health Organization.

Democratizing mental health resources benefits everyone. You may be a person with diverse abilities, a server, a stay-at-home parent, a receptionist, a construction worker or a leader of a thriving tech startup, regardless of what your role is, mental health is relevant to you.

1. Educate Yourself

When it comes to finding the right resources to enhance mental health, businesses and individuals have different approaches.

The former with greater capital seeds may set up an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) or with a flexible paid time off policy for the team, while the latter seek support through search engines or social media platforms.

However, free advice or an EAP cannot teach team members and individuals why mental health resources are key to overall business health and personal well-being.

Businesses are operated by people, and people are the participants in business activities. Therefore, both what a person does for work and experience outside of work, matter.

2. Improve your general Knowledge

Are you aware that free (or affordable) professional mental health services are usually offered by social organizations pertaining to government funding (i.e., the budget and fiscal plan of the year and projections)?

These social services are, unfortunately, not always available to adults in general. Some use the term “functional adults”, frequently referring to those who do not have medical diagnoses or receive disability benefits, assistance or support. As a result, due to limited cash flow, smaller businesses may thus disregard mental health training. Individuals, on the other hand, seek free support from social media platforms.

Could you name a few creators actively providing mental health, personal development or coaching advice without professional training backgrounds?

3. spread mental health awareness

“Mental health is relevant to you.” But in what way?

Case 1: If you work as a receptionist at a small law firm, you work Monday to Friday, 4 hours a day, and you have never gotten into any employee conflict.

Q1: Do you think you need mental health support as a person?

Q2: What would make a difference if your company offered you mental health training (including human skills training, awareness, relationship management, etc.)?

Case 2: If you are a stay-at-home parent, you take care of the housework and child care for your partner. You arrange everything at home, from grocery shopping to managing harmonious relationships with in-laws and friends of your partner’s.

Q: Do you think you need mental health support as a stay-at-home parent?

Mental health is an undervalued subject and is often misconstrued. It is highly relevant to every person’s life, from basic needs to coping strategies.

To conclude, mental health support is available to some degree, depending on what you are looking for. However, if you choose the band-aid solution, the system will remain the same.

key Takeaways

Everyone has their own timeline. If you need time to process your emotions, find emotional support and give yourself as much time as you need. On the other hand, if you need quick fixes, find tips and hacks that are widely available online. Nevertheless, if you want to make real changes, a joint effort is required.

References

Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. (2023, March). Evaluation of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Program 2018-19 to 2021-22 (Public Health Agency of Canada). https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/corporate/transparency/corporate-management-reporting/evaluation/autism-spectrum-disorder-program-2018-19-2021-22.html

World Health Organization. (2024). Constitution. https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution