Self Diagnosis

One in six youths, ages 6 to 17 in the US have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Only 50.6% of them receive the treatment they need. About 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses develop by age 14, and the average delay between the start of symptoms and the start of treatment is eleven years.

Why is there this huge disparity between the number of teens who have a mental health disorder and them receiving delayed or no treatment?

The answer lies in two main issues: a stigma against mental health, and a lack of access to the care they need. Teens are often afraid of what their friends and classmates will think of them if they find out that they have a mental health illness and are seeing a therapist. This stigma is exacerbated by jokes about mental health illnesses and the trivialization of such diseases. It is not uncommon for phrases like, “I have OCD”, or “I had an anxiety attack last night” to be thrown around casually by their peers. These expressions make someone with a debilitating case of such illnesses feel like their disorder isn’t legitimate.

In addition to the negative connotations associated with mental health illnesses, the fact that it is extremely difficult to find affordable mental health care is another preventative barrier to treatment. According to TeenMentalHealth.org, “only about 4 percent of the total health care budget is spent on our mental health.” There is no annual mental health exam that is covered by insurance, and most therapists who accept insurance have to work twice as hard so that they are able to be reimbursed by insurance providers. Therapy sessions typically cost between $75 and $150 per hour, but in some locations, such as New York City, that rate increases to nearly $300 per hour. For the majority of the country, this price just isn’t manageable, leaving many teens feeling like there’s nowhere they can turn to get a diagnosis or the help they need.

Should I self-diagnose my mental illness(es)? What are the pros and cons of self-diagnosing?

As teens feel like they don’t have access to a diagnosis by a professional, they often turn to self-diagnosis. DualDiagnosis.org says that, “A diagnosis provides a faint feeling of illness with a name, and the right diagnosis can provide someone with a clear roadmap to wellness.” But how accurate is a self diagnosis in comparison to a professional diagnosis? Robert Chapman, PhD, from Psychology Today, argues that professionals may be influenced by their prejudices of certain diseases and their associations with a certain race or gender. He says that if self-diagnosers were to use the same screening tools as professionals, then there is no evidence that their diagnosis would be any less accurate (although he still recommends getting a medical consultation in addition to your self diagnosis). However, many others list some massive downfalls to the accuracy of self-diagnosing that indicate that it may be a bad idea to play psychiatrist.

DualDiagnosis.org states that the average person types their symptoms into a search engine, looks at the first couple of results, and bases their diagnosis off of them. There’s a huge flaw in this system: oftentimes search engines show the most serious illnesses in the top results. Someone who’s self diagnosing based on the first few pages they click on could easily convince themselves they have a much more serious diagnosis than they actually do. People who think they have severe diagnoses are much more likely to struggle with additional fear and sadness. Coupled with even a more minor mental illness, these negative feelings can be harmful. Self-diagnosers may try to “cure” this severe disease they think they have, perhaps by changing their diet or taking over-the-counter medications; considering they don’t have this condition, these steps are completely unnecessary and can even be damaging.

As pointed out by Srini Pillay, MD, from Psychology Today, the average adult (much less teenager) do not have the kind of experience psychiatrists do in diagnosing mental illnesses nor the knowledge of the nuances of each individual diagnosis. This can lead people to misdiagnose themselves, diagnose themselves with multiple illnesses when really their disorder covers a variety of symptoms that could be seen in other diseases, diagnose themselves with only one illness when really they have multiple because the symptoms overlap, or completely miss a more serious medical disease with similar symptoms. Furthermore, sometimes individuals are in denial about their symptoms, which can lead to an inaccurate diagnosis.

There are definitely some benefits to self-diagnosing, primarily that it can lead teenagers to a greater sense of self-understanding that can help them go through life knowing their strengths and weaknesses and the reasoning behind it. It can also help lead to a better mentality when looking at your mental illness. Sian Ferguson, an adult who self-diagnosed her PTSD, said, “this allowed her mentality to switch from ‘There’s something severely wrong with me and I’m a bad person’ to ‘I have an illness and I need help.’ ” At the end of the day, self-diagnosis may be okay for a first step to try to help your mental health, but you should closely follow up your self-diagnosis with a visit to a psychiatrist, and be open to their diagnosis even if it differs from yours.

If you don’t recommend self-diagnosing, what can I do to improve my mental health?

1. If you feel comfortable doing so, you should talk to your parent(s) and/or your school counselor. Talking through what you’re going through can make you feel a lot less isolated. Additionally, your parents will likely know more about your insurance coverage or help you research options. Your counselor is trained to help you and your peers with your mental health, and they may have recommendations for other resources you can take advantage of.

2. See if there are any student health centers at your school. These centers may provide free or highly discounted psychotherapy to students of your school. They could also give other valuable resources and information, host support groups, or have the contacts of other cheap options for psychotherapy.

3. Research and reach out to (lots of) local private psychologists. Oftentimes they are willing to work on a sliding scale, meaning they will provide you with service at a cost that is affordable in your financial situation. This can decrease prices from $150 per hour to as low as $10 per hour. Sometimes, they may have interns or recommendations for other practices that will be able to help you. If the first couple of places you try can’t help you, don’t give up!

4. Research and reach out to university medical centers, local training institutes, and nonprofits. Students usually are willing to do cheap sessions for the experience, and nonprofit organizations have been started in many areas of the country to provide treatment for people who cannot afford the help they need for their mental health disorders. openpathcollective.org/ is one nonprofit that helps lower- to middle-class families get access to mental health care, and they offer online sessions in many areas. Again, even if the first few can’t help you, keep trying!

5. Look into your state’s State Children’s Health Insurance Program. These programs offer free or reduced-cost medical insurance for teenagers who aren’t covered. This usually includes mental health treatment. You can find out more by calling your primary care doctor, a local hospital, or talking to your school counselor.

6. Look into government funded mental health centers and clinics, as well as whether you are eligible for free therapy through Medicaid. Since they are subsidized by the government, these centers often charge less than private practices. Search your area at www.nafcclinics.org or www.hrsa.gov to see if there are any near you. Additionally, you may qualify for free therapy through Medicaid, so look into that as an option for treatment.

7. Text NAMI to 741741, call 1-800-273-TALK, or call 1-877-SAMHSA7. These numbers are hotlines/helplines for teens with mental illnesses. The first number will connect you with a person from the National Alliance on Mental Health, and they respond 24/7. The second number is for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and they are also available 24/7. The final number connects you to the SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline, which provides information on mental health and treatment services near you. They are available Monday through Friday from 8am to 8pm EST.

Name: Olivia Noreke

Editor: Nathalia Ramkissoon