Worried about the financial cost of your mental health? How should you manage your finances around this?

Mental health. It is one of the fast-emerging health problems in the world and equally so for Malaysia too. This has also gotten considerably worse during the pandemic with more and more Malaysians reporting higher depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems with Befrienders KL getting 4 fourfold increases in the number of calls for help.

In Malaysia, the social stigma surrounding mental health is still going strong with many opting not to get help for fear of being judged. It is also the case that many are unaware of the financial cost that comes with treating mental health which is exacerbated by the increasing risk of losing their jobs and income. Find out here what are the financial costs that you should be aware of.

#1. Therapy

This is probably the most expensive cost for you if you are trying to get treatment for your mental health. Going to psychiatrists in this regard costs the most as they have more technical expertise in the physiology of your mind and have the license to prescribe medications to you.

You would generally book an appointment with a psychiatrist in any hospital in Malaysia and one session would normally cost about RM100 to RM300 per session in the private sector. This cost however is lower if you go to a government hospital where the first session costs RM30 and subsequent sessions cost RM15.

In Malaysia now, there is actually a shortage of psychiatrists for the population and this situation has actually worsened during the pandemic itself. With a higher risk of job losses and social isolation, psychiatrists are themselves finding it hard to cope with the high amount of demand for their services.

If you can’t afford the high cost of a psychiatrist or wait for an appointment with one in government hospitals, you can opt to go for counselors that charge a lower price who mainly helps you to cope and deal with your problems but cannot prescribe medications. A one-hour session normally costs from around RM30 to RM100, but there are sessions that can cost more than that. If you are very tight on your budget, you can call Befrienders who offer the service free of charge.

#2. Medication

Not everyone will need to take medication for their mental health, but if you are having more severe symptoms, prescribed medication could help in managing and regulating your mental health in the meantime.

Medication costs for mental health will vary depending on the severity. Your doctor will need to assess you, prescribe medication, and then observe the effectiveness of the medication before adjusting the dosage to fit your needs. As your mental health changes, your medication type and dosage will likely change as well so it is crucial you continue to stick to your follow-up appointments.

Do not self-medicate. Whether it is because you are unhappy with the stigma associated with mental health issues or whether you want to avoid consultation costs, it is imperative you are under professional observation by a certified specialist. At the same time, do not stop your medication unless you have been told to do so by your specialist. If you have concerns over cost and effectiveness of your treatment, do discuss it with your specialist.

#3. Change in Diet

One possible recommendations to treat mental health is actually a change in diet. In the medical field, there is an increased focus on the impact of diet on mental health. There is evidence to support that dietary improvement may prove to be an “efficacious and accessible treatment” for people with major depression.

While diets vary from person to person and there is no one size fits all for everyone, generally, it can be concluded that reducing the intake of junk food that has low nutritional value and increasing the intake of vegetables, seafood, garlic, cereal, beans, and grains, could lead to a reduction in symptoms of depression.

As part of dealing with mental health, a change in diet does have an impact on your finances. If you have been eating an unhealthy diet that is cheaper, switching to a healthy diet that costs more could change your finances significantly.

#4. Additional Activities

Dealing with mental health issues, depending on your diagnosis, may involve adapting some parts of your lifestyle. One approach is to participate in healthy activities in a moderate manner. This could be in different forms such as exercise, gardening, painting, and many others.

These activities come with their own expenses. For example, we look at exercise. Gym memberships cost about RM120 to RM230 per month. There are options which cost less, such as jogging in the park. However, it is important that you find balance between the money cost and the mental health cost. If you have difficulty in maintaining motivation, determination, and focus, then it may be more worthwhile to get a gym membership with a personal instructor. On the other hand, if the financial cost is your negative trigger that makes you feel worse, then by all means do go with alternative options.

#5. Supplements

Many who are facing mental health issues also look to supplements for help. It is important to note that supplements are supplements – they are there to supplement the main regime you are on.

The effectiveness of supplements as a form of treatment for mental health is a controversial topic in the mental health field as there hasn’t been concrete evidence. A lot of factors do depend on your individual diagnosis and the major contributors to your issues.

While some feel that supplements do help with the issue and others do not, there are also some who feel it may bring no harm to take supplements provided they are in the correct dosage and do not conflict with any medication you are already prescribed. That said, if you are interested to take supplements, do do your homework and do discuss it with your doctor.

Conclusion

Treating your mental health is a big toll on your psychological well-being and your finances no matter who you are. Sometimes, just getting your foot across the door to seek help is already hard enough what more managing your finances around it. Get a grip on what are the possible things you will be spending on and take control of your life back.

 

Let us know in the comments below what your worries are in seeking help!

 

You May Also Like