45% of Americans with clinical-level mental health problems do not seek care, according to the Mental Health Million Project launched by Sapien Labs. The reasons for not seeking help by individuals included:
- A preference for self-help (36%)
- A lack of knowledge of what kind of help to seek, or where to get it (34%)
- Non-confidence in mental health treatment (28%), including respondents who felt it wouldn’t help (19%), and feared being forced to take medication or being committed(13%)
- 22% did not seek help because of stigma/fear of people knowing
- 17% did not act due to lack of affordability
Spiritual support helps those dealing with mental and physical illness
At The Company Chaplain we are expanding the choice of care for company employees beyond the mental health model–by providing spiritual care. It’s a type of care that the US Army has been providing soldiers for more than 200 years, because the troops value it and because they need support on their challenging missions.
As spiritual care specialists we are used to caring for those with physical and mental illness in clinical settings, alongside their therapists, social workers and doctors. Clients’ spiritual resources can be important in coping with the distress that comes with illness. And of course we are experts in addressing spiritual distress. Spiritual distress is not mental illness. It’s a different type of issue, and it’s a different type of care.
We welcome the chance to partner with our mental health and physician colleagues.
Wishing all who suffer mental illness or distress much peace. May they be well. May they be happy. May they find the support they need, free of judgement and fear.