4 Countries With Inclusive Mental Healthcare

Share now or save for later

Inclusive mental healthcare is essential to treating diverse clients with diverse needs, wherever we are in the world. With the UK’s own mental healthcare provisions deteriorating in the face of never-ending waiting lists, travelling – or even moving abroad for mental healthcare – may well have crossed your mind. Thankfully, some countries offer a much better standard of mental healthcare to that of the UK. But, what do we actually mean when we talk about inclusive mental healthcare, and which countries have the best reputation for mental healthcare provisions?

Finally, we’ll take a look at what you can do if you’ve been unable to access satisfactory mental healthcare in your home country.

What Is inclusive mental healthcare?

Inclusive mental healthcare can mean many things but, for the large part, it means that the following criteria are being met:

• Anti-discrimination policies for protected statuses (i.e. based on sexuality, race, nationality, gender, marital status, and/or ethnicity)
• An openness to treat people from any background
• A confidentiality clause that protects patient rights
• Patient-led care that takes the patient’s opinions and wishes in mind
• A professional environment without personal bias

For those who may deal with oppression in their day-to-day lives, an inclusive therapist can make all the difference. In some countries, inclusive healthcare and mental healthcare are more widely available than in others.

The top 4 countries with inclusive mental healthcare

Here are the top four countries worldwide that are known for prioritising inclusive mental healthcare, and protecting the mental health of their citizens.

France

France tops the list, since 15% of government spending is allocated to mental health resources. What’s more, the French Government offer state-funded therapy for anyone over the age of three. While parts of France still have a bad reputation for homophobia, there are many inclusive therapists available for citizens of the country, if you take the time to look for them.

Compared to the US – whose government spend next to nothing on mental healthcare – France makes a positive statement by prioritising the mental health of any citizen, regardless of who they are. This inclusivity is important, and one of several important benefits of living in France.

Norway

Norway is another country with an excellent reputation for its inclusive mental healthcare provision. In Norway, you’ll even find specialist emergency rooms tailored to mental healthcare. These ‘crisis centres’ are available to all and they offer top-notch care, as well as medication-free psychiatric wards, for those who prefer not to take medication.

In addition, as Norway is a very progressive country, many private practice therapists offer inclusive treatments that don’t discriminate based on protected statuses.

Sweden

Besides the fact that Swedish citizens can access to free, quality mental healthcare, Sweden also boasts some of the most beautiful natural surroundings. Many studies show that nature is good for your mental health which, combined with Sweden’s excellent mental healthcare services, makes Swedish citizens among the most happiest people on Earth.

Furthermore, most Swedish citizens enjoy a great work-life balance, with plenty of time to work and spend time relaxing, whether alone or with family and friends, all before nightfall.

Where the Swedish people themselves are concerned, they are praised for their strong communication skills and are known to prefer conversation over coldness, when it comes to passing strangers on the street.

Germany

In terms of attempts made to reduce country-wide stigmas around certain mental health conditions, Germany is leading the way. The German Government works hard to offer quality, inclusive mental health services for all citizens. They have a high number of mental health programs available including inpatient hospitals, rehabilitation programs and highly trained therapists.

So, how does the US rank?

Although the inclusive mental health movement is slowly gaining traction in parts of the US, the country as a whole ranks far lower than many others for the importance attached to citizen mental healthcare, with a complete lack of government-funded healthcare.

In some areas of the US, some patients have reported feeling ridiculed, stereotyped, profiled, or even coerced by therapists due to their protected identity status. Religious therapies – like conversion therapy for LGBT people, for example – still operate in parts of the country.

This kind of experience can feel even harder for teens and their families in the US, because teen anxiety often gets brushed off as “just stress” until it starts affecting school, sleep, friendships, and day-to-day confidence. And unlike adults, teens may not have the words to explain what’s going on – anxiety can show up as irritability, stomach aches, avoidance, panic feelings, or shutting down at home. That’s why it helps to look for support that’s built specifically for teens, with clear treatment plans and a space where they feel safe and respected -whether you’re searching locally in your state or trying to find a program that serves families across the US. For example, Avery’s Teen anxiety treatment can be a relevant option for families who want structured, teen-focused care rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. If you prefer alternatives that aren’t widely “known,” community mental health centers, children’s hospital programs, school-based counseling services, and university psychology clinics in many US cities can also be strong options—especially when they use evidence-based approaches and explain how they’ll track progress.

If you’ve been unable to access suitable mental healthcare in the US, a potential option to consider is online therapy with BetterHelp. Online therapy platforms like BetterHelp allow you to find an inclusive therapist from the comfort of your home. You’ll know what you’re getting into from the start, and you’ll be treated with respect. To discover more about how to access inclusive mental healthcare online, check out BetterHelp (https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/inclusive-mental-health/).

Share now or save for later