Bell "Let's Talk" Day - Mental Health Awareness

[Resolute 14]

It's not that it is outrageously expensive so much as many health plans don't cover it nearly well enough. The company I worked for when I went to see a psychologist would refund $500 a year. The rest was tax deductible, but only if you spent a minimum percent of annual salary. Even at once every three weeks, I never hit the threshold. End result: I ate the cost. My current employer would have been much better, as it covers something like 75% of all visits.

[LIP MAN]

Originally Posted by peter12

Probably. You'd have to document that this sort of public awareness campaign has any effect on mental health at all. My guess is that it doesn't, but hey, lots of free advertising for Bell.

Also, put me in the camp that believes mental health is not as super-serious as many people think.

I'm going to agree and disagree with you on here. Coming from a background of dealing with these types of issues, and not necessarily going through the "medical model" a lot of companies chose not to use our service, most likely because they wouldn't be as "visible" in their charitability.

On the second point, you're dead wrong. There's a ton of evidence that would counter your thinking; in addition to the stigmas attached to why these campaigns are helping to let people know where to look for help (although sometimes that process can be a nightmare to sift through).

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

It's not that it is outrageously expensive so much as many health plans don't cover it nearly well enough. The company I worked for when I went to see a psychologist would refund $500 a year. The rest was tax deductible, but only if you spent a minimum percent of annual salary. Even at once every three weeks, I never hit the threshold. End result: I ate the cost. My current employer would have been much better, as it covers something like 75% of all visits.

Well, as per my link, the psychiatrists recommended charge up to $200/hour. My health care plan covers $1,000 per year and after that you are on your own. No serious mental illness can be dealt with in 5 hours of counselling.

As for the tax deduction, that's useless. You have to spend more than 3% of your net income. So for someone with a net income of say $80,000, that's $2,400 out of your own pocket before you can claim any tax credit. Well, I guess that $2,400 would get eaten up awfully fast at $200 a pop, but that alone would put many people in the poorhouse. I guess being depressed and poor would be a very bad combination.

[Resolute 14]

Oh, I agree. As I said, the fault is in our health care system more than anything.

[Anduril]

Bumping this up just to post this. Interview with Mary Deacon who runs the Let's Talk Program. Even addresses some points like how there would be cyncism as an attempt by Bell for free advertising.