Hey there, I’m from Germany and have mental health issues such as depression and was wondering how prevalent this topic is in America.
Here in Germany this topic has become extremely normal and pretty much everyone seems to openly talk about it even with strangers sometimes. We have a lot of therapists but it’s often hard to get an appointment since medical care in Germany is free and they have overwhelming numbers of people and the therapists don’t have enough availability to accommodate everyone. The therapists I had so far were pretty good since they really seemed to care about me and often did overtime and such to talk.
I wonder if it’s similar in America that a lot of people go to therapy and openly talk about mental health. What is the situation in America like? Do you have many therapists (especially in rural areas) and how easy is it to get in/finance? Or would you say this topic is generally more frowned upon in America in comparison?
I do. I’m 40 years old and live in an isolated although not quite rural area of a mostly conservative state. I used to keep my struggles and issues to myself out of shame. At some point it occurred to me that talking about my struggles with depression and anxiety might help someone else not feel ashamed or embarrassed about their mental health leading them to seek help. “Be the change you want to see in the world”, right?
Like any chronic health condition, insurance can be a pain in the ass trying to find a good provider. Reading some of the other responses I’m feeling lucky in that the most difficult issue I’ve had is just finding a therapist I click with. My insurance has a feature on their website where I can find therapists in my area that are in their network.