I treat mental illness every day, yet I cannot find mental health treatment when I need it

At the end of a long work day, I checked my messages, my eyes dazzling in excitement at one of them in particular. 'I'm ready. Can you find me a psychiatrist'? An old friend had been contemplating getting mental health treatment for quite some time, but along the way, there were stigma, cultural misperceptions, and hope that his symptoms would resolve on their own. I received his request with exhilaration and relief, knowing how much it would benefit him and his family. I work as a psychiatrist for a large and prestigious organization in the Boston area and was certain that in no time my friend would be connected with a great clinician and would soon feel a lot better. That certainty quickly became astonishment at the sad realization that his reluctance to get help was not the most significant obstacle: help simply was not available.