Mental Health Disparities in the United States are Unethical

In the United States, one in every five adults experiences a mental illness each year (Mental Health By the Numbers). However, less than half of those Americans are receiving the proper treatments they need to combat their suffering. The rate of Americans struggling with a mental illness is on the rise. Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death among people aged ten to thirty-four in the United States. (Mental Health By the Numbers) Suicide is often caused by many factors “although suicide has been strongly correlated to depression, hopelessness, and despair” (Johnson, 172). These deaths have been proven to be avoided with early intervention with the proper behavioral health treatments, counselors that specialize in suicide prevention. However, behavioral health services in the United States are not easily accessible to the Americans who desperately need them. The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (Constitution). However, the government does not aid Americans in the components that would allow them to improve their mental well-being, as they spend the majority of their healthcare budget on physical care. Society is blindly following the government\u27s lack of promotion of mental healthcare as believing that it is not as vital. The country’s provided insurance plans leave many Americans choosing between their physical or behavioral health because they cannot afford both. The unequal quantity of types of providers in the healthcare system is unethical and disrupts a patient’s ability to care for themself. Ethics is an individual’s moral code to treat others with respect and dignity (Pasztor). Providing Americans with the services they need to improve their mental health would show the government’s humanity, recognizing the need for medical attention beyond just physical needs. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are suffering from mental illnesses that impact their everyday lives. Individuals make up the U.S. economy, and if the people are suffering so will the economy. The lack of mental healthcare and the patients receiving treatment in the United States is a growing issue. Americans are facing barriers to receiving mental health treatments due to poor insurance coverage, lack of providers, and a weak integration among healthcare providers