Healing A Broken Mental Health System: Margaret Bell On 5 Things That Can Be Done To Fix Our Broken Mental Health System
An Interview With Stephanie Greer
Moving away from a medical model that demands diagnosis to use insurance and in some cases access to mental health services.
The current state of the mental health system is a conversation that echoes in the halls of policy-making, the corners of social advocacy, and within the private struggles of individuals and families. As we continue to witness an unprecedented need for robust mental health support, the shortcomings of the existing system become more glaring. It is within this backdrop that we seek the insight of those who are at the forefront of behavioral health. In this interview series, we are talking to behavioral health leaders, policymakers, mental health practitioners, advocates, and reformers to share their perspectives on healing our broken mental health system. As a part of this interview series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Margaret Bell.
Margaret Bell is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado. She is a trauma and grief specialist. She has her Masters in Counseling and postgraduate certifications in Child and Adolescent Counseling, Transpersonal Counseling, and Thanatology. Furthermore, she is a Somatic Experiencing Practioner. Outside of work, she has a reverence for art, folklore, and the ambiance of Halloween.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your background and your childhood backstory?
According to my mom, I was destined to be a therapist. She said it was how I interacted with others as a child. I was sensitive. I was upset that Maleficent wasn’t invited to Aurora’s baby shower. I felt that if someone just loved Darth Vader, he wouldn’t be so mean. I was a neurodivergent child learning to navigate in a neurotypical world that had yet to recognize neurodivergence. In adolescence, I developed anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder. Throughout my life, I have experienced my share of traumas. Becoming a therapist felt natural.
Before becoming a therapist, I was a hairdresser and administrative assistant. I wanted more and to be a role model to my daughter. I have spent most of my career in human services and community mental health. I have worked as a case manager, milieu counselor with adolescents, crisis clinician including suicide prevention, mental health therapist, and advocate for individuals with mental health and developmental disabilities.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” Anais Nin.
I am fascinated by the human experience and how we perceive and interact with the world. This quote reminds us that we see things based on who we are and our unique life experiences. Interacting with others, this quote, is a powerful reminder that they come to us, seeing the world from their unique perspective.
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. It is often said that “the mental health system in America is broken”. What does that statement mean to you? From your perspective what is “broken” today?
Suppose someone is struggling with mental health and desires services. In that case, they must navigate an outdated, overwhelmed, and exhausted system. If they have insurance, they must find a provider who accepts their insurance and is accepting new patients; this is before the person even knows if the provider is a good fit. A good fit therapist is crucial in treatment. It is vital that a person feels safe and can trust their clinician. Understandably, trust and safety must be built and are not a given in the therapeutic setting.
While searching for a provider, they must learn how their insurance works. They are frequently surprised by the lack of coverage and what constitutes coverage. When using insurance to pay for mental health services, the person seeking services (the patient or client) must have a mental health diagnosis. This can be frightening as many people do not want a diagnosis. Some diagnoses come with stigmas, which can further impact someone’s mental health. Some people are grateful for a diagnosis that helps them better understand their symptoms and navigate the world. Others prefer not to be labeled. Either way, the person seeking services wants to feel better. Sadly, we still live in a society that stigmatizes mental health and many diagnoses. If someone does not have insurance, they must find a provider that provides a sliding scale or pro bono work. The other option is community mental health, which does not have enough providers to meet the needs of the community. Many community mental health agencies have a wait list and are unable to meet the immediate needs of the public. Many people do not get the services they desire or deserve. Many end up with clinicians who are not a proper fit.
This is a broken system. A system that is not providing fair and equal services to all members of society. A society that stigmatizes mental health and mental health care.
What about any bright spots? Do you think there are any elements that we get right in today’s world that we wouldn’t want to reverse unintentionally?
The mental health system, as broken as it is, has some fantastic people in it who want to provide support and who are dedicated to servicing those who need support. There are service providers who are empathic and passionate about servicing their communities. Many states and cities are trying to create services to meet the needs of the public. I know in Colorado, where I live, we have a mental health hotline; we have walk-in clinics for mental health emergencies as well as crisis stabilization units, which provide a 3–5 day stay to support people in crisis.
In your opinion, what are the 5 most impactful things that could help heal the broken mental health system? These could be on any level including training, workforce, policy, culture, equity etc.
1 . Culturally competent care.
2 . Diversity in care teams, represention of all peoples.
3 . Policies that make navigating the mental health system easier.
4 . Greater access to services, including mental health coverage by insurances.
5 . Moving away from a medical model that demands diagnosis to use insurance and in some cases access to mental health services.
If all of the items on your list were magically implemented tomorrow what change might we see in the world?
A healed system would provide people with mental health services without bias or judgment; People could access support without fear of insurance denial or out-of-pocket expenses. They could tend to their mental health without anxiety and stress. When we tend to our mental health, we feel better, our communities feel better, we are better able to deal with life stressors and not emote on others, we are better able to deal with conflict. There would be less conflict, anger, and fear — more compassion, understanding, and communication.
What is a project you or others are working on today that gives you hope? How can our readers learn more about this work?
I am working on a project with Anna Ellis that normalizes and discusses grief. We use horror movies as a starting point because horror movies often reflect the challenges our society is experiencing. Horror movies also have an element of grief to them. You can find our podcast on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/0HlSpaInLPPG5YhbTQdHCv?si=58ffb603867c497b
How do you see technology shaping the future of mental health care and its accessibility?
Technology makes mental health care even more accessible. Anyone can gain access, which is exciting because no matter where or who you are, you can have access that supports your mental health.
In your view, how do social factors like poverty, education, and culture affect mental health care and its effectiveness?
They are huge in their impact on mental health. Everything impacts everything. If I am living in poverty, my mental health is not a priority, even though it is being affected. Furthermore, it is essential to understand different cultures have different views about mental health and health care; understanding these views can change someone’s ability to access care. Understanding and normalizing mental health care is a way to start deteriorating the blocks to services. Unfortunately, we do not have a universal method to access services right now, making it harder for people to access care. Our school system is a beautiful place to start discussing and normalizing mental health and ways to support it and access care. Even our children’s mental health is suffering, which impacts their education. Right now, we live in a society that stigmatizes and judges mental health, which is prevalent in all our systems. Normalizing mental health removes the stigmas and judgments, making mental health as normal as health care.
In light of the growing mental health crisis among young people, what innovative approaches or interventions have proven most successful for children and adolescents? Providing access to services, mental health clinicians in the schools, teaching about emotional wellness.
Children and adolescents need safe spaces to be seen and heard without judgment. It would be wonderful if every school had more than one school counselor. It would also be fabulous if emotional wellness were part of the teaching curriculum. Currently, our school systems are taxed with not enough teachers or supports. Our school systems need a complete overhaul, like many of our systems.
Are there any books, podcasts, or other resources that have helped you understand or manage your condition better?
I often recommend My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem to clients; it is a fabulous book dealing with personal, systemic, racial, generational, and historical traumas.
Other than that, I can’t pinpoint just one book, podcast, or resource because everyone has different needs and interests. I encourage people to find resources specific to themselves and their needs. And to vet the credibility of the person or persons they seek support from. Many people are out there claiming they have cures without the qualifications. Trust your gut; if something or someone does not feel right, that’s okay; someone or something else has the support and qualifications you desire.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them. 🙂
Oh wow, just one? Our world is full of fascinating people who I would love to engage with. I would have to say I would love to have a breakfast or lunch with Ocean Vuong author of “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous.”
How can our readers further follow your work online? https://margaretbellcounseling.org/
Instagram: @forwardkindheart
Thank you for your time and thoughtful answers. I know many people will gain so much from hearing this.
About The Interviewer: Stephanie Greer, PhD is the Co-founder and CEO of Akin Mental Health — a company dedicated to guiding families on their journey supporting a loved one with mental health challenges like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and severe depression. Stephanie is passionate about this topic from her own personal experience growing up with a mother who struggled with bipolar 1 disorder and found a path forward to overcome the obstacles and live well. Stephanie’s professional experience includes a doctorate in neuroscience as well as design research roles at Hopelab and Apple. Stephanie brings this personal passion together with her world-class science and technology background to support families across the US in their personal journeys supporting loved ones with mental illness. To learn more about Akin Mental Health and join our community, visit us at akinmh.com.
Healing A Broken Mental Health System: Margaret Bell On 5 Things That Can Be Done To Fix Our Broken… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.