What are some reasons there is limited access to behavioral health facilities compared to medical hospitals

There have been many barriers that prevent individuals from receiving the necessary mental health care they need.  Limited access to behavioral health facilities compared to medical hospitals has resulted in increased stigma about mental illness and prevented people from seeking help for their conditions (Ruggiero & Rabideau, 2017). This phenomenon is known as the “mental health–care gap” (Weiner et al., 2018). The disparities in access to quality mental healthcare are due to a variety of factors including lack of insurance coverage, shortage of providers, geographical distance, long wait times, cost of services, and inadequate staffing (Vu et al., 2018).