Issues associated with access to mental health care

Despite the requirement by the Affordable Care Act to cover behavioral and mental health care, most of the mental patients lack financial ability to cater for treatment costs resulting in inconsistent and inadequate treatment (Dockery et al. Reduced mental health awareness and education hinder early recognition of mental illness thereby hindering access to mental health care services. Mental illness symptoms are subtle and often dismissed as personality and attitude issues resulting in delayed access to mental health services. Besides, poor perception of mental illness hinders the effective provision of care to mental illness patients by their families resulting in negative perceptions of mental health care and eventually reduced access to mental care services (Dockery et al, 2015). Another issue is lack of comprehensive mental health policies which are critical in the execution and dexterity of mental health care services.