Mental Health USA
نویسنده
چکیده
When it comes to seeking psychiatric help, America is largely divided into two economic classes: those who can afford private psychiatric care and those who cannot. Usually, a privately-practising psychiatrist in the USA receives from 25 to 35 dollars per patient appointment. For psychoneurotics, most American psychiatrists ask for at least two psychotherapeutic sessions a week ?at a cost to the patient of 50 to 70 dollars a week. This, of course, is beyond the reach of most Americans. However, the minority who can afford these fees keep the private psychiatrist so busy that he does not have time for the patient he never sees?the one who cannot afford his fees. Three months wait Theoretically, some clinics are available, at low cost, or free, for those who cannot afford private outpatient care. However, nearly all these clinics have long waiting lists so that the person tormented today by a crippling phobia or hag-ridden by a severe anxiety may have to wait three months before his name comes to the top of the clinic waiting list. Because of the pressure of new applicants , most clinics have to limit visits to one a week and some to one visit a month. Clinic salaries in the USA average 75 to 100 dollars a day?which works out, on the traditional 8 hour day, to from 9 to 13 dollars an hour?less than half of what the psychiatrist can earn in private practice. Characteristically, the clinics are staffed by young and relatively inexperienced psychiatrists , usually just starting private practice. As that practice grows, they tend to leave the clinics for the greener-backed pastures of private enterprise. Thus, the clinic system does not meet the basic problem because of long waits, infrequent visits, and inevitable rapid turnover of therapists.
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