So far, you have learned that mental illness is common and has a heavy burden for people affected by it, including family members. One of the best ways to reduce the burden of mental illness is to provide effective treatment. Simple, cheap and effective treatments are available for most mental illnesses but few people with severe mental illness ever receive these treatments. The difference between those who need treatment and those who get treatment is known as the treatment gap.

From your general knowledge of people in your community, why do you think so many people with mental illness never receive the treatment that could help them?

Show answer

Some possible reasons that may have occurred to you are as follows:

they don't know that effective treatments exist
they don't know where to get help
the stigma prevents them asking for help
they have to travel too far for help
they can't afford the medication
they don't believe that health staff can help with this kind of problem
they prefer to have traditional treatments
they don't like the side-effects of medication
they don't believe that they have an illness.

In the next section you will learn about how mental healthcare can become more accessible to those who need it by providing support through the healthcare system.