Politicians, advocates, and volunteers alike have worked throughout history to make certain privileges become what they should be, a fundamental human right. The right to medical care is often seen as a foregone conclusion today. Regardless of who you are and where you might live, you are entitled to receive medical assistance. If this can be more or less agreed upon, why should psychological care be any different?
I grew up with many privileges as the child of a middle class, well-educated household. Due to this privilege, there were some things that I unconsciously took for granted. The right to care is one often one of the most under-appreciated. The unfortunate reality is that many families or individuals can not afford what others receive without cause for concern.
Psychology and all of its encompassing disciplines is a field that has only recently received the acknowledgment and acceptance of the mainstream populous. It is now gaining traction and credibility as perceptions of psychological illnesses as legitimate conditions have taken hold. Now, society is more willing and committed to the treatment of psychological issues. Psychiatry and its practitioners are growing day by day, as is our understanding of mental health.
Currently, this field is facing the same prescient issue that plagued many medical practices throughout history. Is it accessible to everyone who needs it? The current predicament goes beyond the socio-economic divisions that stand in the way of making care available to all communities. We still face the challenges of social stigmas, cultural biases, and even religious persecutions.
One of the most rewarding and enlightening experiences I have had in the psychological field was my summer volunteering for an organization known as the Spastics Society. This non-profit organization is an entirely charity-based and community dependent program that works with underprivileged families in the local region. They offer educational services to intellectually challenged children whose parents can scarcely afford primary schooling, let alone specialized care.
The staff, comprised almost entirely of volunteers, strives to assist these families in ensuring that their children can live up to their full potential. The teachers and caregivers work in conjunction with pro bono psychologists to provide quality education as well as to equip the parents with the necessary knowledge and skills to continue this care in their homes. Sadly, the society they live in is not the most accepting of differently-abled individuals. Like many cultures, those who live below the poverty line are often overlooked by medical facilities and professionals. Fortunately, there are people such as the directors of this organization dedicated to changing this perspective. They work diligently to bring public attention to the needs of these financially dependent families.
These are not issues exclusive to the developing world. In the United States, some communities lack the support of insurance or simply might not speak the language common to medical institutions. It is in these cases that organizations such as the Casa De Salud can have the most impact. This organization works with professionals and local volunteers to offer affordable and integrative care to immigrant Spanish-speaking communities. With transparent pricing, translation services, education on rights and a commitment to continued care, they have been able to offer assistance to those who lack the means to find it elsewhere. Their innovative service provides an example of how the industry can be improved and reformed.
We can make psychological care a given right for all communities by striving to make our assistance accessible, affordable, and comprehensive. By committing to the furtherance of psychology across culture, class, and gender, we can ensure that its benefits can be continued in the long term. This is the future of psychological care in a modern age.
Of Skies and Spectres 