Severe shortage worldwide of qualified and
skilled experts who can help may indicate career opportunitiesi
More than one-third (34 percent) of Americans who seek
counseling for mental health issues experience barriers that make
it difficult or impossible to receive services, according to a
recent survey from University of Phoenix® College of Social
Sciences. This is down slightly compared to 18 months ago when 38
percent who ever sought counseling experienced barriers.
Of those who have experienced barriers to counseling, the
majority (53 percent) said those barriers prevented them from
receiving these services. The online survey of more than 2,000 U.S.
adults was conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of University of
Phoenix in fall 2014.
“News coverage of high-profile incidents has put a spotlight on
the topic of mental illness, but there are many individuals who
suffer silently and may even feel further alienated by the extreme
incidents covered in the news,” said Dr. Constance St. Germain,
executive dean for the College of Social Sciences at University of
Phoenix. “The demand for mental health services is creating
significant job opportunities in the field, particularly for
trained mental health care professionals.”
Acknowledgement of mental health issues
Most (97 percent) Americans believe mental health issues are at
least somewhat of a serious problem in the United States, with
nearly three-in-five (58 percent) considering them to be an
extremely or very serious problem. According to the survey, more
than three-in-five (62 percent) Americans report that they have
personally experienced mental health issues. Those who report
personally experiencing a mental health issue, say they have
experienced the following*:
- Anxiety: 42 percent
- Grief: 38 percent
- Mood disorder, such as depression: 37
percent
- Marriage/relationship issues: 36
percent
- Family relationship issues: 34
percent
- Work-related issues: 24 percent
- Trauma/post-traumatic stress: 14
percent
- Addiction: 10 percent
- Eating disorder: 7 percent
- Other: 2 percent
Barriers to counseling
Fifty-two percent of those who experienced barriers to
professional counseling are hindered by financial constraints and
nearly a quarter (24 percent) by health insurance. However,
notably, the number of respondents citing health insurance as a
barrier to seeking treatment is down 12 percent points from
2013.
Other barriers include being unsure counseling would be
effective (26 percent), feeling unsure of where to seek counseling
(24 percent), not feeling comfortable with a counselor (27
percent), reluctance to face problems (22 percent), and the social
stigma associated with mental health treatment (20 percent).
March, 2013 September,
2014 Financial barriers 58%
52% Health insurance coverage
36%
24% Not sure would be effective
32% 26% Not sure where to
go to seek counseling 38%
24% Could not find a counselor with
whom they felt comfortable 21%
27% Reluctant to face problems
19%
22% Social stigma 15%
20%
While social stigma ranks lower than other barriers, 20 percent
of Americans who experience barriers still identify it as a reason,
which is an increase from 15 percent in 2013. Younger Americans (33
percent of those in their 20s) are more likely to say social stigma
kept them from seeking treatment.
“While many of the reasons cited as a barrier to professional
counseling declined over the last 18 months, those seeking
counseling are still experiencing them,” said Dr. Stephen Sharp,
associate dean for University of Phoenix College of Social
Sciences. “Another barrier to seeking professional counseling
involves cultural constraints that create a taboo for going outside
the limits of the culture for help.”
Reasons for seeking counseling
Twenty-eight percent of Americans say they have ever received
professional counseling. Of those who have sought counseling, the
most common reason is mood disorder such as depression (51
percent), followed by anxiety (46 percent), marriage and
relationship issues (43 percent), family issues (41 percent), and
trauma/PTSD (31 percent).*
Other reasons Americans say they have sought counseling:
- Child behavior issues and parenting
help: 22 percent
- Personality Disorder: 21 percent
- Addiction: 18 percent
- Eating disorders: 13 percent
- Work-related issues: 13 percent
- Behavior modification, such as quitting
smoking: 11 percent
Forty-four percent of Americans say they would seek counseling
if they or a family member had a mental health concern in the
future, 42 percent are unsure, but would be open to counseling, 8
percent are unlikely to seek counseling and only 6 percent say they
would never seek counseling.
Careers in counseling and mental health
According to the 2012 estimates, 43 million U.S. adults over the
age of 18 exhibited mental illness, which accounts for close to 20
percent (18.6 percent) of all U.S. adults.i This demand for
services is driving significant job growth. In the United States,
employment of mental health counselors and marriage and family
therapists is projected to grow 29 percent from 2012 to 2022, much
faster than the average for all occupations.ii
The survey reveals that nearly three-in-ten (29 percent) working
adults who have never worked in a mental health-related field are
interested or would consider these careers.
“There are too few mental health professionals to meet the
growing worldwide need. Many areas of our country are experiencing
a shortage of professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists,
counselors and social workers. The human impact as well as the
costs of mental illnesses can be staggering,” added Sharp.
Sharp offers the following tips for those interested in pursuing
careers in these fields:
- Do your homework to find the right
program to fit your career goals and areas of interest.
- Explore geographic areas identified as
having mental health provider shortages.
- Conduct an online search of the State
Professional Boards for license laws and requirements for licensure
in your state.
For more information about University of Phoenix degree
programs, visit http://www.phoenix.edu.
*Percentages reflect self-reported data regarding experience
with mental health issues.
Survey Methodology
The 2014 survey was conducted online within the United States by
Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix September 25-29,
2014, among 2,031 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. The 2013 survey
was conducted online March 22-26, 2013, among 2,130 U.S. adults
ages 18 and older. For complete survey methodology, including
weighting variables, please contact
Jennifer.Marshall@apollo.edu.
About University of Phoenix College of Social
Sciences
University of Phoenix College of Social Sciences offers programs
in human services, psychology and counseling. The college’s
curriculum seeks to empower individuals who wish to enhance their
skills for career entry or advancement in the helping professions.
Curriculum is regularly updated to meet accreditation and/or
national and state professional standards. University of Phoenix
College of Social Sciences faculty members are experienced
professionals, holding advanced degrees. Many sit on state
licensure and accreditation boards as well as professional
committees. For more information, visit
www.phoenix.edu/socialsciences.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working
adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly
changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses,
and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue
career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives.
As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL),
University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering
associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs from
campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online
throughout the world. For more information, visit
www.phoenix.edu.
i National Institute of Mental Health: Any Mental Illness (AMI)
Among Adults
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/any-mental-illness-ami-among-adults.shtml
ii World Health Organization: Mental health atlas 2011
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/multimedia/podcasts/2011/mental_health_17102011/en/
University of PhoenixJennifer Marshall,
847-476-2734Jennifer.Marshall@apollo.edu
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