---
title: Exploring Barriers to Mental Health Care in the U.S.
description: "This brief defines the barriers to accessing mental health care in the United States and highlights the key focus areas policymakers should prioritize to improve access, coverage, and affordability of care.   [Read More](https://www.aamcresearchinstitute.org/our-work/issue-brief/exploring-barriers-mental-health-care-us#:~:text=The%20shortage%20and%20maldistribution%20of,professionals%20compared%20with%20urban%20areas) [https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.)[https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.)[https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.)[https://www.addtoany.com/share](https://www.addtoany.com/share)"
url: "https://bridges4mentalhealth.org/hub/access-to-mental-health-services/exploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s/"
updated: "2026-07-31"
category: Access to Mental Health Services
tags:
  - Audience
  - Mental health professionals
  - Report
  - TA sites
---

# Exploring Barriers to Mental Health Care in the U.S.

This brief defines the barriers to accessing mental health care in the United States and highlights the key focus areas policymakers should prioritize to improve access, coverage, and affordability of care.

 

[Read More](https://www.aamcresearchinstitute.org/our-work/issue-brief/exploring-barriers-mental-health-care-us#:~:text=The%20shortage%20and%20maldistribution%20of,professionals%20compared%20with%20urban%20areas)

 [https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.)[https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.)[https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbridges4mentalhealth.org%2Fhub%2Faccess-to-mental-health-services%2Fexploring-barriers-to-mental-health-care-in-the-u-s%2F&linkname=Exploring%20Barriers%20to%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20the%20U.S.)[https://www.addtoany.com/share](https://www.addtoany.com/share)