Why Mental Health Still Feels Out of Reach for Many People

In the past few years, conversations around mental health have become more visible than ever.

We see it in social media posts, workplace initiatives, school programs, and everyday language that now includes words like “boundaries,” “triggers,” and “self-care.” On the surface, it can feel like we are finally moving in the right direction.

And yet, for many people, mental health support still feels distant, unavailable, but somehow not meant for them.

While we traditionally understand this distance to be about stigma, that's not always the case. It’s also about access, language, and the subtle ways in which mental health conversations are shaped by who they are created for.

One of the most immediate barriers is cost.

Therapy, especially in urban private practice settings, is often priced in a way that makes it difficult to sustain over time. For someone already managing financial responsibilities, uncertain income, or family expectations, committing to regular sessions can feel unrealistic. Even when the need is recognized, affordability and sustainability is always on the mind.

But access is not only about money.

It is also about whether people can see themselves reflected in the way mental health is talked about.

Much of the language used in mental health spaces assumes a certain level of familiarity. Conversations around explaining jargon, involve understanding other jargon. Terms like “holding space,” “inner child work,” or even “processing emotions” may feel intuitive to some, but alienating to others. 

When support is wrapped in language that feels distant or overly clinical, it can create the impression that therapy is only for those who already understand how it works.

In this gap, people often turn to what feels more accessible, familiar, or culturally embedded.

For some, it may mean turning to religious or spiritual frameworks. In many parts of India, it is not uncommon for people to consult astrologers or other traditional practitioners before considering therapy not necessarily because they do not believe in mental health, but because these options feel more immediate, less intimidating, and more aligned with their worldview.

At the same time, the growing demand for support has also led to an unregulated landscape.

It is increasingly common to come across individuals offering services as “therapists,” “counsellors,” or “coaches” without formal training or adequate supervision. For someone seeking help for the first time, it can be difficult to tell the difference. The result is that people may have experiences that feel confusing, unhelpful, or straight-up harmful.

Even within trained professionals, not every therapeutic experience feels like a good fit. A mismatch in approach, lack of cultural sensitivity, or simply not feeling understood can leave clients feeling disappointed or hesitant to try again.

These experiences matter.

A single difficult or invalidating interaction can shape how someone views therapy as a whole. It can reinforce the idea that mental health support is not for them, or that it does not work in ways that feel meaningful.

At the same time, there is a growing gap between awareness and accessibility.

People are more informed about mental health than before, but that awareness does not always translate into meaningful support. Knowing that therapy exists, or that mental health matters, does not automatically make it easier to seek help, continue it, or feel comfortable within it.

So what would it mean to make mental health feel more reachable?

Perhaps it begins with paying attention to how we communicate. Using language that is flexible, contextual, and grounded in everyday experiences rather than fixed terminology. Recognizing that not everyone will relate to mental health in the same way, and that this does not make their experiences any less valid.

It may also involve greater transparency, visibility, and accountability within the field itself. This makes it easier for people to understand what ethical, trained care looks like, and what they can expect from it.

And importantly, it requires meeting people where they already are, rather than expecting them to enter mental health spaces on unfamiliar terms.

Mental health does not exist in isolation from the rest of people’s lives. It is shaped by financial realities, social structures, cultural beliefs, and the systems people are part of.

Until these realities are part of the conversation, mental health will continue to feel like something that exists just out of reach for many.

Author Bio

Tanisha Goveas is a psychologist based in India who has spent over seven years working across therapy spaces, helplines, and classrooms. Her work is shaped by an interest in how people understand their emotions within the constraints of everyday life. They are constantly exploring the connections between mental health and various facets of society, and are interested in making therapy feel more accessible, honest, and grounded in lived realities.