Poll: Have you or someone you know experienced difficulty accessing mental health care?

June 4, 2026 - 17:17

A new poll is asking residents of western North Carolina a direct question: have you or someone you know faced trouble getting mental health care? The survey, conducted by a local health advocacy group, aims to quantify a problem that many in the region have long suspected is widespread.

The question of access is particularly acute in the mountainous counties west of Asheville. Rural areas often lack enough psychiatrists, therapists, and inpatient beds. Long travel distances, a shortage of providers who accept Medicaid or Medicare, and high out-of-pocket costs create barriers for people in crisis. The poll's results are expected to show that a majority of respondents have either personally experienced a delay in treatment or know a family member or friend who has.

One resident of Haywood County described waiting six months for an initial appointment with a psychiatrist. Another from McDowell County said the nearest therapist who specialized in trauma was a 90-minute drive away. These stories match national trends, but the geography of western North Carolina makes the problem worse. The region also faces a higher-than-average rate of substance use disorders, which often require integrated mental health support.

The poll will run through the end of the month. Organizers plan to share the data with county health departments and state legislators. They hope the numbers will push for more funding for mobile crisis units, telehealth expansion, and loan forgiveness programs that attract mental health professionals to rural areas. For now, the survey itself is a reminder that asking about the problem is the first step toward fixing it.