Mental Health Financial Assistance: Top 6 Ways to Get Help
According to Mental Health Ireland, 18.5% of the Irish population are recorded as having a mental health illness such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, or alcohol/drug use in 2016. If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health issues, know there are many resources that provide mental health financial assistance—so you can get back to the life of well-being you deserve.
The true cost of mental illness
Mental illness manifests itself in several ways, and it doesn’t have to be completely debilitating to become a problem. When mental health issues begin to affect your ability to function and cause you recurring stress, it may be time to seek help.
Poor mental health can have an impact on us emotionally, physically but also financially.
- Youth mental health charity Jigsaw has warned that services are stretched more than ever, with thousands more accessing their services in 2021 due to covid and the cost of living.
- Wait times for mental health services increased by 68% last year, according to the Dublin Simon Community’s latest annual report
- This can be a costly public health concern. According to ThinkBusiness the cost of living crisis is infiltrating the Irish workplace with 85% of employees admitting to have experienced anxiety in the past six months over money worries.
Financial assistance for mental health treatment
Positive mental health and well-being not only feels good, but helps you cope with everyday stresses, work more productively, and contribute more to your community and personal relationships.
For most—even for those with private health insurance—struggling with a mental health issue can mean high out of pocket medical expenses. Fortunately, there are several ways you can get financial assistance for therapy.
1. Government assistance for mental health
In Ireland, there are some government benefit options for those who need help accessing mental health services. Keep in mind that government assistance for mental health treatment does come with certain eligibility requirements, typically related to income.
There are a number of social welfare payments for people who are sick or who have a disability. Payments are made either by the Department of Social Protection or the Health Service Executive (HSE). To qualify for a social welfare payment because you are sick or have a disability you must be certified as sick or disabled by a doctor.
You can qualify for certain payments if you are sick for just a short time. For other payments you need to show that you have an illness or disability that will last longer than one year.
Generally, social welfare payments are made up of a personal payment for yourself and extra amounts for your dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and your dependent children.
2. Charities that offer mental health resources
In addition to government aid, several charities also provide financial assistance for people needing mental health care.
For the best idea in what services are suited to your needs, it’s always also a good idea to have a word with your GP.
You can also call the HSE YourMentalHealth Information Line on freephone 1800 111 888, any time day or night.
There are several charities in Ireland offering free or cost-effective assistance:
- Jigsaw – Mental health advice and support – online and in person – for young people aged 12 to 25 years old, and for parents or concerned adults.
- Childline – Ireland’s 24-hour listening service for young people up to the age of 18. Childline is a service from the ISPCC.
Freephone 1800 666 666, any time
Text 50101 any time
Chat online at childline.ie any time - ALONE – National support and referral line for older people. Phone 0818 222 024, 8am to 8pm every day
- The Alzheimer Society of Ireland – Emotional support and information on supports and services. Freephone 1800 341 341, Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, and Saturday 10am to 4pm.
- Minding Your Wellbeing – Free series of video resources to learn and practice key elements of mental wellbeing such as mindfulness, gratitude, self-care and resilience from HSE Health and Wellbeing.
3. Online fundraising for mental health
Wondering how to pay for therapy without breaking the bank? Financial assistance for mental health patients is easily accessible through mental health fundraising on GoFundMe. Starting a fundraiser is easy to set up—and with crowdfunding, there are no applications, eligibility requirements, or long waiting periods to receive funds.
- If you’re looking to use the power of social sharing to increase donations, these fundraiser sharing tips will help you spread the word about your fundraiser to more potential donors.
4. Sliding-scale therapists
Many people may opt to see a private therapist as well as making use of free care. They may choose to do this alongside this care, or instead of it.
It can be expensive to receive private mental health care, though. But there are many counselors available who provide mental health financial assistance through a sliding scale-based payment system.
According to MyTherapist, there are a few options available.
Low-cost counselling is talk therapy offered at a lower price than usual. The service may be provided by a trainee therapist working under the direct supervision of an experienced registered practitioner or a reduced fee offered to those with less ability to pay.
A sliding scale is an amount charged per session depending on your ability to pay. This is usually based on your income level; for example, if income is less than €30000, you pay €30 per session, and if income is over €30000, you pay €45.
MIND offers practical advice on the positives and negatives of doing this.
Some private therapists offer a sliding scale of payment depending on your circumstances.
There are two main payment options:
- Paying the healthcare provider directly. Your healthcare provider should explain any treatment or appointment costs clearly beforehand. Some providers may have payment plans that allow you to pay in installments.
- Taking out private healthcare insurance. Insurance can cover part or all of the cost of your treatment, depending on your policy. Not all policies cover psychiatric treatment or pre-existing conditions, so before taking out any policy you should check it carefully and make sure you understand what it covers.
5. University mental health services
The demands of university are often stressful, which—if left unchecked—can lead to mental health challenges. Fortunately, lots of universities offer low-cost mental health services to students, in addition to the organizations below.
- BeLonG To Youth Services – Support, information and groups for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI+) young people in Ireland, their parents and carers, and other professionals.
- Spunout – spunout is Ireland’s youth information website created by young people, for young people. Articles and information for young people on many topics, including mental health.
6. Online therapy
Quite a few online sites offer low-cost programs and helplines to help people struggling with mental health issues.
- Better Help can match you to one of 33,000 therapists based upon your location, preferences, and therapist availability..
- Minding Your Mental Health – Multilingual video messages presented by doctors and other health professionals living and working in Ireland. The videos are available in Romanian, Polish, Arabic, English, French, Lithuanian, Russian, Irish and Portuguese.
You deserve to take care of your mental health
We all deserve to live a life full of happiness and well-being, and finances should never stand in the way of getting the mental health treatment you need. Through medical fundraising, the funds you need to take care of your mental health are quickly within reach. Sign up today and start your own fundraiser, so you can get back to living a life you truly enjoy.