Therapy and Socioeconomic Status

One thing about therapy and counseling that troubles me is the cost. I've always been surprised by how expensive it can be, and not all therapists accept insurance. What they do is amazing and certainly worth the price, but the expense means there are be barriers to access. Mental illness is certainly more prevalent in populations that are poorer, though this is correlative and not causative. But even aside from psychiatric disease, many people simply need counseling for itself; we go through hurt, loss, and tragedy, and most of us don't have extraordinary coping skills. 

How can we lower the barriers to counseling? Like medical or dental insurance, I think mental health and personal well-being resources should be available to anyone. Depression, grief, anger, and addiction can be just as life-altering as cavities or a broken bone or a heart attack. No one should have to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket to address these issues. And I think ultimately, society will benefit. With good counseling, patients may need fewer medications, be more productive, and be less likely to get involved with gangs, drugs, and violence. We need to increase the number of providers, lower the cost of getting help, and expand access to this critical resource.