Kaiser, Don't Deny

Kaiser should be the leader in mental health care

I have been a Kaiser member since birth. After a miscarriage 16 years ago, I experienced a major depressive episode and began taking medication for my illness. Today, I am still on medication and I really love my psychiatrist. However, when it comes to regular therapy, which I was in desperate need of approximately four years ago, the wait to see someone at Kaiser was just too long. Instead, I found another therapist and paid $150 per session, out of pocket. If I had had to wait to see someone through Kaiser, I don’t want to think what might have happened. My depression and anxiety had returned in a big way, and weekly therapy literally saved my life. I should not have had to go outside of Kaiser to get the care I needed. Luckily we were able to afford the extra expense, and it was worth every penny to feel well and whole again. However, there are many out there who are not able to pay out of pocket for desperately needed care. Kaiser should be the leader in mental health care. There is no excuse for the wait times that are currently the norm in the mental health department. I stand with NUHW; change is needed immediately!

Jeanette
Norwalk