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Cardoso Laureano: Access to mental health services shouldn’t depend on where you live
Letter To The Editor

From Michelle Cardoso Laureano

Monroe

To the Editor:

Recently, there has been a growing concern about mental health struggles and the difficulty of getting access to services. Finding and reaching out for help isn’t easy and for people in rural areas, it can feel almost impossible.

In rural areas of Wisconsin there are long waitlists to see a therapist, whether that’s going through a clinic or a private practice. This leads to people having to look for help further away from home, which can be over an hour away. If people are balancing work, school, childcare, or have limited transportation, this distance could cause them to not seek treatment. As a result, many people go untreated. Untreated mental health struggles can often worsen over time.

Access to mental health services shouldn’t depend on where you live. Expanding programs like telehealth, having more counselors in schools, and clinics could benefit the community. These steps wouldn’t only make treatment for mental health struggles more accessible, but it could also help reduce the stigma around seeking help.

Mental health affects one in five adults and one in seven adolescents. By speaking about these struggles and advocating for more mental health initiatives, we can help ensure that rural communities aren’t left to struggle.