It's estimated that 1 in 5 people have a mental health condition. In 2020, that's over 1.9 billion people. But despite the high rates of mental illness, accessing reliable, quality care remains a luxury in most countries. Barriers to treatment — including complicated insurance plans, high costs and a shortage of mental health care workers — keep the vast majority of sufferers from receiving the advice and support they deserve.
We believe that the internet can help us chip away at these barriers. No, we won't fix the system overnight, but we can start using technological tools to our advantage. And in doing so, make valuable opinions more accessible to those in need.
Ask the Experts is an ongoing Q&A series featuring leading psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, family physicians, social workers and other mental heath care leaders. It was created to bring trustworthy information and recommendations to the community for free. Before each Q&A, spend some time looking into that week's guest and come prepared with questions that are relevant to your experiences and their expertise.