Local mental health professionals try to address barriers to care

KACU | By Paige Taylor

Published May 15, 2023 at 5:00 AM CDT

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Doors of the Marriage and Family Institute at ACU.

Shelly Womack

In the early days of the pandemic, just over 20% of Americans reported experiencing some form of mental illness.

2021 was a record-breaking year for demand for mental healthcare services. The demand for such care remains high and often communities lack adequate resources to meet that demand. And some communities face higher barriers to accessing that care. May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

KACU’s Paige Taylor spoke with Lisa Merchant, Program Director of ACU's Marriage and Family Therapy Program, to get a picture of local mental healthcare options.

Lisa Merchant, Director of the Marriage and Family Institute at ACU.

Shelly Womack