Barriers to Seeking Help

According to the?Liptember Foundation’s 2023 Women’s Mental Health Research , there are many barriers to accessing mental health services in Australia and most of these are the same as last year. However, in 2023,?more women believe they can manage their mental health issues on their own , increasing from 34% in 2022 to 39% in 2023. There has also been an increase in women who feel their issues aren’t serious enough to seek help for (with 29% last year and 33% this year), and those who are reluctant to seek help due to the financial burden (22% last year and 31% this year). Furthermore, there are more women who are?embarrassed or ashamed to seek help , fear being judged, or have other competing priorities in life.?

Of the?1 in 2 women ?in Australia experiencing a severe mental disorder, only?49% of them are seeking help . In this article, we take a deep dive into some of the more common barriers to seeking help affecting Australian women today.?

Cost of Living and Financial Pressures?

Our?research ?revealed that?59% of the female population ?have seen the increased cost of living pressures having a negative impact on their mental health and only?15% of those women? who have been affected took action to address this. Pressures cited included the increasing cost of grocery, petrol and utility bills, uncertainty about the future and having less money to spend on feel-good activities like dancing and socialising with friends.

A member of the?Liptember Foundation’s Mental Health Advisory Panel , Madhavi Nawana Parker ?shared, "If you're isolated, if you're depressed, if you're anxious, if you don't have the money to get out and about to do things - then you just sit in your head and spend 24 hours a day listening to a dialogue that describes a life that is very isolated."

The demographic most heavily impacted by the rising cost of living are?young and middle-aged women in regional areas . Their mental health was further deteriorated by stagnant employment income, escalating mortgage repayments and the pressure to financially support their families. Interestingly,?women in their teens, in metro areas and those older than 50? were less likely to be affected by the increased cost of living according to the Liptember Foundation.

Furthermore, the ongoing cost of living crisis is?disproportionately impacting mothers . The mental health of Australian women and specifically, Australian mothers, is consistently lower than any other social group according to?new data.?

This has been reinforced by a?UK study ?into the cost of living crisis which similarly revealed that women are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis and its damaging impact on anxiety and mental health. The findings highlight the?disproportionate toll ?that the cost of living crisis is having on women’s anxiety, stress and mental health. Women often?shoulder the burden ?of managing household costs such as food and childcare and are also more likely to be low-paid, and in part-time or insecure employment. They are also more likely to?rely on government support , making them more vulnerable to rises in the cost of living. Given the ongoing cost of living crisis, which has seen rent and mortgage prices skyrocket, as well as an increase in utility and grocery bills, stagnating wages and the threat of a recession, it’s?hardly surprising ?that so many parents are feeling the strain and struggling to stay optimistic.?

A long-term fundraiser and loyal Liptember advocate recently shared her story as someone who has been impacted by the cost of living and financial pressures.?

For 34-year-old?Ricki-Lee Barley , the birth of her second child during the pandemic set off a debilitating period of anxiety. "I couldn't sleep, the constant thoughts were fatiguing. It felt like a heavy cloud going around my head," she said. Household finances were particularly tight, with the sole income coming from her partner's reduced wages as an apprentice carpenter. Ms Barley knew she needed mental health support, but finding the finances proved challenging.

"Initially, I felt guilty about the cost, but in reality, I needed the support. I had to reframe my thinking. I now understand I am the backbone of this family, and I need to sort myself out before I can help others," she said.

After seeking help, Rikki-Lee received an?ADHD diagnosis ?which provided her with a sense of relief and understanding of how she could get the right support moving forward.?

Another loyal Liptember Fundraiser and supporter, Elnaz Rafiee, was diagnosed with depression when she was in her early teens and says her mental health is a daily battle. After falling pregnant last year, she was?diagnosed with perinatal anxiety and postnatal depression.?

Now, the cost-of-living crisis is bringing added pressure. The rising costs have been “consuming” her and her partner, and they are worried about their future.?

Elnaz said ?her everyday expenses, including rent, electricity, gas and baby products, were some of her biggest financial concerns right now. Rising costs also meant she returned to work as a travel agent just five months after giving birth to her son - which was earlier than she was comfortable with - so she could provide financially for her family.?

Liptember Foundation CEO and founder Luke Morris ?said Aussie women were suffering from a “mental health paradox.” Financial pressures are worsening women’s mental health, yet at the same time, a growing number of those who suffer from mental health issues say they can’t afford to seek the help they so desperately need,” Morris said.

The number of Australians seeking financial counselling has?surged by 30%? as interest rates and inflation continue to strain their finances. Further research conducted by Beyond Blue and SIC revealed that people with financial stress are?twice as likely? to experience mental health issues. As shared by?Dr Grant Blashki, Lead Clinical Advisor at Beyond Blue , “Financial stress doesn’t exist in a vacuum. There is a strong relationship between hardship and mental health issues.”?

Stigma and Shame?

Despite a conscious move towards?improving public awareness , acceptance and reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health, evidence suggests that many people are?still facing barriers ?to seeking professional help, possibly more than ever.

One of the most widely reported barriers continues to be?public, perceived and self-stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness . This stigma creates?embarrassment and shame, ?and young people in particular often?refrain from seeking help due to the concern that others might judge them , or think negatively of them for seeking help.?

Furthermore, many people avoid seeking help for fear that a?formal diagnosis or label? may cause?negative consequences ?for their social life, or other's perceptions of them. According to the?Liptember Foundation's latest research , 22% of women said that they were reluctant to seek help as they felt embarrassed or ashamed and 20% reported refraining from reaching out due to of a fear of being judged.?

Denial of the Severity of Mental Illness?

Alarmingly,?33% of women ?have reported refraining from seeking help as they perceived that their mental health issues weren’t serious enough to seek help, and?28% of women ?reported putting off seeking help because they felt there were other more important things going on in their life.?

Many people struggle to identify when the difficulties they are facing are extending?beyond the normal threshold of stress . It is easy to fall into the habit of?underplaying or undermining the severity ?of one's mental illness and hiding behind the false perception that what they are experiencing is normal. This is largely observed in mothers who frequently put others' needs before their own, and prioritise their health and self-care last.?

The?Liptember Foundation’s CEO and Co-Founder Luke Morris shared , "We see a real-world trend in women not placing their mental health as a priority. What came through the research was for women, being that central hub of families and communities, they tend to put others first."?

Preference for Self-Reliance

According to the Liptember Foundation,?39% of women ?believe that they can manage their mental health issues on their own which?deters them from seeking help . Many women perceive that seeking help from others is a weakness or a sign that they are incapable of managing their daily life.?

Accessibility to Help?

A further barrier to seeking help is the?inaccessibility ?to appropriate or suitable care. Our latest women’s mental health research revealed that?12% of women ?listed finding it difficult to gain access to resources and support services as their barrier to seeking help.?

Some women find it?challenging to schedule an appointment ?due to long wait times or struggle to know where to get help and who to ask. Others struggle to find time off work or face accessibility barriers due to a lack of transport access . Unfortunately, Medicare-funded mental health services are spread unevenly and many women in need are missing out. Almost?70% of people who receive psychological treatment ?through Medicare are still out of pocket by approximately $90. The lack of service availability, alongside the out-of-pocket fees, make government support unattainable for many.?

People are having to?wait longer to access treatment. ?The?median wait time ?between a person receiving a mental health plan and attending their first session is?approximately 3 weeks.?

Other barriers to seeking help include?negative interactions with mental health professionals ?in the past, or a lack of trust in the therapist, alongside a belief that the right support services simply do not exist.?

What Now?

The?Liptember Foundation ?believes a collective approach from government and industry is required to enable cost-effective, timely and practical access and availability of support services to those who need it most. Improved education and awareness will also have an enormous impact on reducing service barriers, as stigma and understanding around mental ill-health can be a barrier in taking the first steps to reach out for help.?