Barriers to mental health care when you have no money and insurance

Hi Everyone,
Today was a productive but tiring day for me.
I'm still pursuing finding very low fee therapy in Chicago. One of the places I was looking into that has a group day program as well as therapy and seemed really good is full to capacity right now, and can't accept clients that aren't in the neighborhood it's in anyway. The woman was very nice though. When I told her I was frustrated that I know more about local resources (thanks to google) than he does, she said,"Watch out, they might just hire you!"
She gave me the name of the local mental health center with similar services to theirs that's for my neighborhood. I had heard of them and been calling several times. I left a more forceful mesage saying that someone from another center told me they were responsible for my area and to please call me back. Finally someone not too nice did and left a mesage. She said that for any of their services you need your medicade card, a mental health diagnosis, and social security benifits based on that diagnosis.
Well two out of three for me. Three if you count my SSI for being blind, which I suppose they won't. Once I actually get medicade, and if I'm still looking and haven't found anything else, I'll call them back and debate this with them. I think it's totally crazy that they would make SS benifits for the diagnosis a requirement. That leaves out a whole lot of people. I talked to someone from my depression support group today on the phone, and he said others in the group have tried to get benifits for their diagnosis and it's taken years!
Oh, I forgot to say, that first center, the one that wouldn't take me because I wasn't in their neighborhood, they have a drop in center that's free where you can go everyday. So I'll probably check that out thursday.
I'm scheduled to meet with someone at the day program I was originally interested in on friday. Even though I don't have medicade yet, she's willing to do a sort of intake and have me sit in on some groups. I'm happy about this. It will get me out of here for most of the day and give me an idea of what these programs are like.
I got on yet another waiting list to see an intern at the therapy center my support group is at. The interns can only see ten clients each, and there are only two interns! They also do have a sliding scale fee DBT group which I may look into doing. I don't know.
It's just so frustrating to be told no over and over again, and to have all these barriers to just wanting to get help. It's just so sad that there's not more out there.

((Adel))

Adel. I'm from the uk. Same barriers. I think to be honest society's finances really couldn't cope with what really is needed to ensure good mental health care. It's quite frightening really. I guess you could say though what is spent on war would be better spent on good mental health care. Of course then there's all the corruption in gov and business that could pay for good mental health care. But I don't think as a species we are as advanced as we fool ourselves into believing we are.

It is very sad. Alas all we can do is try and find a way to do the best we can for ourselves as individuals. I value myself more than society does so do pay out of Pocket for the best mental health care I can get.

Are you applying for Medicaid? If your sure your going to get it start emailing T's that accept it and see if they will accept you now. They can be paid retroactively for 90 days of service. My T accepted me while I waited for my Medicaid to get kicked on. He saw me for 2 or 3 months before he actually started getting paid for our twice a week sessions.

good job being proactive. A lot of people just sit back and say "there isn't anything out there for me". You are making the phone calls, getting on lists and searching for help. Sorry it is so frustrating though. I really hope your medicaid comes thru quickly.

i'm really impressed with how proactive you are. especially when it seems you're being denied help at every turn. i really hope that some of the leads turn into something good for you. xo

Thanks everyone for all your support!
Earth mamma, I totally agree with you. The money spent on war and corrupt government practices could be spent on good mental health care. And yes, when I had all my SSI money as my own I payed out of pocket too and was fine with it.
Lost, I don't know aboutthis working out in the state I'm in. Every place I call says that we can't make appointments until I actually have my medicade card. I'm surprised that day program is letting me even come on Friday to see it without my medicade. I could ask again, wouldn't hurt.
I'll keep everyone posted.

I agree with you that there should be a whole lot more government spending on health care, including mental health care. If this were the 1970's, you'd be tripping over community centers in Chicago who were able to offer free or low cost mental health services.

One place that some people don't think of for therapy is your local rape crisis services. Every organization is different, though, but the ones I have known about offer counseling for anyone who has a sexual abuse or sexual assault history, no matter how long ago it was. They may have groups, individual counseling, or both.

Maybe I'm wrong about this, but if you are already getting SS benefits for a physical disability, you can't ALSO get them for a psychological disability, right? That would mean this requirement would be impossible for you to ever meet. So if this requirement is iron-clad, then they'd be excluding everyone who was disabled by a physical disease/illness. Perhaps this is a turf battleground between the people who provide services for the physically disabled and those who provide services for the psychologically disabled. I'm sorry you are stuck, but perhaps a polite explanation that you are already on social security disability, and therefore it is impossible for you to receive benefits from psychological disability-- the government won't allow you to double dip. Perhaps in its place the organization would accept a letter from a mental health professional (from your past) that states that you are disabled and suffering from your mental health issues and are in need of mental health services.

Best of luck to you.

Do you have this list?

http://www.equipforequality.org/reso...nter/guide.pdf

I would keep trying I didn't have a card, I didn't have a number...my paper work hadnt even been started being processed. Start emailing T's directly explain your situation and see if any are willing to work with you like mine did. I was in crisis, my T knew it. He took me right away, I called Friday, and he saw me Monday... he didn't care about payment. In fact he only asked like once or twice if I had gotten my ID number over the 3 month period.

Hi again,
Listin, I'm honestly not sure how social security works on this issue. I would imagine that if I have it for being blind I can't also get it for a mental illness. I know my psychiatrist from MA would probably be willing to write whatever letter I needed in support of me getting care. The psychiatrist who comes to this facility once a month is a total weirdo. I don't even have his number.
My issues don't involve sexual abuse, so going to those types of counseling centers is out. Lost, I'm gonna pM you about what it is you wrote. Thanks for your support everyone.
I'm headed to the free drop in center tomorrow and maybe they'll have some thoughts.
Perna, I'm gonna check out your link too.