Did you know that only 41% of adults with mental health issues get treatment and help? That might seem like enough, but considering the number of deaths every year due to some type of mental health issue, it clearly isn’t.

I personally had struggled. I can’t imagine not being able to undergo proper treatment. This is a struggle I have experienced first hand. I myself have been in mental health treatment. However, I remember when I was there, people were getting kicked out every week simply because their insurance stopped paying for it and they didn’t have the money, not because they were better. My own family had to do a lot of work to make sure my treatment was paid for. They do pay for some in most cases, but not enough to truly guarantee full recovery for a person.

Personally, I strongly believe that all healthcare should be more widely accessible regardless of financial status, but the mental health side of things such as eating disorder treatment, and rehab, for example, needs to be made a human right. Yes, most insurances cover these expenses, but is insurance really affordable for everyone? And how much are insurance companies really willing to learn what needs coverage more specifically? Not to mention that the number of people with insurance has gone down since 2017, and the percentage of children without health insurance has gone from .9 to 5.5, making me question President Trump’s influence in this. Insurance companies and the government need to start making this a priority, as well as educating on how important mental health is and how damaging not getting support can be.

Every American deserves the right to have their illness taken seriously and cared for regardless of financial situation.