To think that people should consider paying for MH services?

[DoodlePug]

First of all, of course I think it is wrong that you can not access services on the NHS.

Secondly, yes I know there is a cost of living crisis and people have even less spare money than they used to.

However, we are where we are and I feel some people don't prioritise their mental health as much as their physical health. I know plenty of people who pay for private physio which they should be able to access on the NHS, and for hip/knee operations because the list is too long yet the same people are waiting months/years for assessment and treatment for MH conditions which invariably get worse.

Obviously if you can't pay you can't pay, but is 2 weeks in the sun really better for your health than 20 counselling sessions which could well help to alleviate your anxiety/depression?

If someone is choosing between treatment for their elbow and their anxiety why does the elbow always win?

Is it just a societal thing? Do we not value our MH as much as our physical health? Or is there still a stigma and you feel good for seeing a physio but bad for seeing a counsellor?

Genuinely perplexed why people who could afford it and have shown an inclination to spend on private physical care won't do the same when it's mental care. Would love to hear your thoughts.

And if anyone is looking for a counsellor the bacp register is a good place to start.

Indeed I think the Op.has no real understanding of any severe and long term mental illness,s
Many people do suffer with anxiety to varying degrees and perhaps in fairly mild cases a holiday will help
But anxiety is only the tip of the ice berg with mental illness.

I often think that with mental health services we have things the wrong way around. They don't really seem to ask the question of why, as a nation, our mental health is so bad. If modern life is causing so many people to have depression and anxiety (thinking of those specifically) why not try to fix modern life instead of the individuals who are struggling to cope with it?

I see what you mean about equalising the way we view physical and mental ill health, but suggesting people pay for it privately is one of those slippery slope things that will have everyone paying for private health insurance as well as national insurance and we all get screwed while Tory donors rake in the shareholder dividends.