Child Abuse Survivor - Issue #183
US healthcare is expensive and mental health care is beyond the reach of many who need it
This week, I wanted to highlight this post because it offers a clear view of the realities of mental health care costs from both sides.
Thank you for reading the Child Abuse and Mental Health Survivors newsletter. Each week, I share new blog posts and other resources that aim to help survivors of childhood abuse and those who are struggling with mental health issues feel less alone as we discuss the issues surrounding our issues.
For more information about me and why this newsletter exists, visit the website, Child Abuse Survivor.
In there, you’ll read about how a stable, educated, dual-income family still needed financial help to secure care that saved their son’s life and helped him reach a point where he is thriving.
But, you’ll also read about the difficult decisions mental health professionals have to make between caring for patients, financially supporting their own families, and guarding their time to be able to take care of themselves.
When you’re not the major breadwinner in the family, perhaps you can stay in-network with insurance and charge less for patients with fewer resources, but if you are supporting your family on this income, you might need to go private and charge patients directly without any insurance involved.
Somehow, we have designed a system that isn’t available to many while still making it hard to make a living as a provider.
In the meantime, thousands, maybe millions, of people in the US do without mental health care because they simply can’t pay for it. We lose some of them every day. How much are those lives worth? Are they worth the effort to find a better solution? I think they are.
New from the Blogs
Sharing - The Cost of Healing Out Loud
Having people in my life who I can talk to has been a massive support in my healing. Being able to tell my story with my voice has been a huge blessing for me.
I’m also acutely aware of the downside when it goes wrong, however. I know too many survivors who’ve been further damaged when trying to share their story as opposed to getting the support they were desperately seeking. Please, be careful with your story and yourself.
Sharing - How Online Interactions Affect Mental Health in the Digital Age
Perhaps if we all focused on connecting with individuals and creating for one another, and less on consumption, we wouldn't need to enact laws that prevent people from accessing the opportunities that the internet makes available to us.
Related: the internet can be part of this. Winter changes more than the weather—it changes how we connect. Here’s how to stay socially engaged
Sharing - the wound of unbelonging
Mental health advocates like me can talk all day about the importance of community and the life-saving value of human connection, but who are we if we take that away from anyone?
Sharing - Memories of childhood trauma may shift depending on current relationships
Think of it this way, we don’t ask trauma survivors to try healing from their trauma when their current situation is unsafe. That would be silly. We get them into a safe situation first, before they can even begin to heal. The same goes here. Kids who are safe and feel secure in their parents’ love and support look forward beyond the trauma.
Kids who are unsafe and not secure in the love and support of parents relive their trauma on a daily basis. It’s no wonder they are slightly more likely to immediately think of it when surveyed.
Shared from Elsewhere
You already know how I feel about photography. I agree with this:
‘Waterfalls saved me’: how photographing nature can heal the soul
Yeah:
Also -
Speaking of what’s going on in the world. This is also timely - Why Being an Ally to the LGBTQ+ Community Matters — Especially in Mental Health.
We’ve all done this math - The mental math of taking time off.
Each year, Time to Talk Day is organised by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness to encourage people to come together and have conversations about mental health. So in this post, I’m going to consider why talking to others about our emotional and mental health is so important.
What books would be on your list? - 14 Books To Read To Support Your Mental Health Journey
Making a Difference:
‘I Love You Bro’ project creates safe space for men to talk about mental health
Local artist helps Lightning continue mental health initiatives
Former Bengals great Anthony Munoz to host mental health fundraiser
Man launches ‘Dad’s War Room’ to support men’s mental health
Thanks for reading. If you find this newsletter informative and helpful, please share it with others. That’s the best way to express gratitude for my weekly efforts.