In 2024 in the United States, nearly 60 million adults experienced a mental health illness. Out of those 60 million adults, 15.2 million adults experienced a severe mental illness. Despite these numbers, over 30 million individuals experiencing a mental illness are going untreated.1 Mental health is an important part of overall well-being, yet the systemic lack of resources, stigmatization, and gender disparities create barriers to much needed care. Treating mental health as secondary to physical health perpetuates these inequalities and neglects the obligation of healthcare systems to provide holistic care. The lack of mental health resources in the United States, along with societal stigmas and gender disparities, highlights an urgent ethical crisis in healthcare that requires systemic reform to ensure equitable access, combat stereotypes, and address the unique needs of all individuals that need mental health support. 

 

     The United States faces a profound shortage of mental health resources, affecting patients across the care spectrum. In inpatient care, the number of psychiatric beds has drastically declined over the decades, falling as low as 12 beds per 100,000 people, due to budget cuts and deinstitutionalization efforts.2 This scarcity leaves patients in crisis waiting days or even weeks for an available bed, often in emergency departments ill-equipped for their individual needs. 

 

     Meanwhile, outpatient care is similarly stretched. Median wait times for a psychiatry appointment, whether it be in-person or online, can range anywhere from 43 - 67 days, sometimes longer for those in lower-income or rural communities, and less than 20% of current psychiatrists are in a position to accept new patients.3 Long wait times to see therapists or psychiatrists, along with high costs and limited insurance coverage, mean that even individuals seeking non-emergency care face significant barriers. These systemic failures contribute to worsening mental health outcomes, as patients are left untreated. 

 

     The societal stigma surrounding mental illness is one of the most significant barriers to mental health care. Common stereotypes such as dismissing mental health disorders as “attention-seeking” or labeling affected individuals as “weak” trivialize the severity of these conditions and invalidate the experiences of those struggling.4 This stigma not only isolates patients but also creates a culture of shame, where admitting to mental health challenges is seen as a personal failure rather than the legitimate medical need that it is. These attitudes are especially prevalent in certain cultural or social contexts, such as in the workplace or in schools, further disrupting efforts to normalize mental health care. 

 

     This stigma is a violation of the ethical principle of nonmaleficence.5 Individuals deserve the freedom to seek care without fear of judgment or dismissal, yet societal prejudices disrupt this right by creating an environment where mental health struggles are hidden or ignored. Additionally, stigmatization of mental health care causes tangible harm by deterring individuals from accessing care, leading to worsened symptoms and avoidable crises. Healthcare providers have a unique responsibility to challenge these biases by treating mental health disorders with the same seriousness and respect as physical illnesses and by advocating for equitable treatment. 

 

     Mental health experiences and access to care also differ significantly between men and women, showing underlying gender disparities in our healthcare system. Over 6 million men in the United States suffer from depression alone, and men die by suicide at a rate of four times higher than women.6 Societal expectations often pressure men to suppress their emotions, leading to underdiagnosis and underreporting of mental health issues. Men may avoid seeking help due to fear of being perceived as weak or unmasculine. 

In contrast, women are more likely to be diagnosed with conditions such as anxiety and depression but often face their own set of challenges. Women are 20% to 30% more likely than men to be misdiagnosed by medical professionals when it comes to mental health.7 Their symptoms are frequently dismissed or attributed to hormonal changes, leading to delayed or inadequate treatment. 

 

     The dismissal of women's symptoms and the stigmatization of men's emotional struggles undermine respect for patient autonomy and the duty of beneficence. Addressing these inequities requires a gender-sensitive approach to mental health care that our government has shown no sign of providing. 

This leads us to a crucial question: how can we effectively tackle the mental health crisis? Addressing this crisis requires the United States to expand resources, combat stigma, and reduce gender disparities. First, investment in our mental health infrastructure is important, as currently it is severely lacking. This includes increasing funding to train mental health professionals, expanding inpatient facilities, and improving access to outpatient services. Policy changes to guarantee that mental health services are covered by insurance providers can also help reduce financial barriers, enabling more individuals to receive care. For underserved populations, integrating mental health services into primary care settings might improve accessibility issues.8 

 

     To address gender disparities, healthcare providers could adopt a gender-sensitive approach that accounts for the unique challenges faced by men and women, similar to the approach Ireland has to mental health care.9 This includes offering more tailored treatments such as group therapies that address men’s reluctance to seek care or specialized training for providers to recognize and validate the symptoms of women. 

 

     On top of this, work must be done outside the healthcare system. Combating stigma could be implemented by efforts such as public education campaigns emphasizing that mental health disorders are medical conditions and not personal failings. Schools, workplaces, and community organizations could also provide mental health literacy programs to encourage early intervention and support.10 

 

     To create a more just and compassionate healthcare system, we must prioritize comprehensive mental health care that is accessible, stigma-free, and sensitive to the unique needs of all affected individuals. This requires increased investment in resources, broad public education campaigns, and a shift toward gender-sensitive approaches in treatment. Only by confronting

these systemic issues can we ensure that mental health is treated with the same seriousness and respect as physical health.