Therapy Alone Can’t Solve the Global Mental Healthcare Crisis

There is no doubt that mental health stigma still interferes with people’s interest and ability to seek care, but thanks to public advocacy in recent years, the conversation around mental health continues to evolve, as athletes, celebrities, and government officials shine a light on a topic that, traditionally, many have been afraid to even acknowledge.

While mental healthcare and society’s acceptance of it has come a long way, the barriers to access traditional forms of mental healthcare remain remarkably high. For example, the American Psychological Association reports more than half (53%) of psychologists didn’t have openings for new patients in 2024. As the stigma fades and more people seek out help, the shrinking supply of therapists, psychologists, and mental health providers won’t be able to meet the demand. However, lack of sufficient providers isn’t the only reason that people do not seek or receive care – cost, logistical challenges, and lack of confidence in treatment also stand in the way of people seeking the care they need. In order to solve the global mental health crisis, healthcare systems around the world must start thinking outside the box.

Rethinking the Traditional Therapeutic Model

Historically, the mental health industry has positioned therapy as the only solution to mental health challenges. While it is undeniably true that therapy is effective, there is another truth that is often missed due to this singular focus, which is that therapy is not always what people need or want. Coupled with the global shortage of therapists that make this model unsustainable, the industry’s preoccupation with therapy excludes alternative effective options.

A recent study conducted by the non-profit research institute RAND Europe, analyzing data from 178,119 people across seven global regions, revealed surprising nuances in mental health engagement worldwide. The findings challenge many preconceived notions about preferences across regions, genders, and demographics, suggesting a one-size-fits-all approach to mental healthcare is not sufficient to address mental health concerns at scale.

Cultural Variations in Support Preferences

Although regional research exists about mental healthcare and related preferences, few studies have looked at the issue from a global perspective, which is why this research, uncovering distinct regional differences in what people prefer in terms of mental health support, is illuminating. Individuals located in Asia, for instance, demonstrated a clear preference for self-guided digital resources over traditional talk therapy, while North American patients gravitated toward one-on-one therapeutic support. People in Latin America and the Caribbean showed the highest overall engagement with mental health resources, while Canada reported the highest proportion of individuals who engaged in nine or more one-on-one provider sessions. These findings challenge the assumption that traditional therapy is universally preferred or effective and they highlight the critical importance of offering culturally-aligned mental health solutions.

Age and Digital Comfort: Challenging Conventional Wisdom

One of the study’s most surprising revelations challenges deeply ingrained assumptions about age and technology adoption. Contrary to popular belief, Generation Z (ages 18 to 27) showed a strong preference for one-on-one support, while Generation X (ages 38-67) gravitated toward self-guided help online. Even more striking, Baby Boomers (ages 58-67) are 47% more likely to engage with self-guided digital resources than Gen Z patients, who are 257% more likely to engage in one-to-one care than their older counterparts. These findings fundamentally challenge our assumptions about generational preferences and digital comfort levels in mental healthcare delivery.

The Path Forward: Embracing Diversity in Mental Healthcare

These insights underscore the need for personalized, flexible, and culturally centered mental health support. The implications extend far beyond convenience or preference—they directly impact treatment effectiveness and outcomes. Research shows cultural beliefs and practices influence every aspect of mental healthcare, from how people express symptoms to their willingness to seek treatment and their expectations of care providers. They also demonstrate the necessity of multiple evidence-based options to address mental health needs of diverse groups.

To truly make a difference in people’s lives, mental health providers must embrace a more nuanced understanding of how diverse the human experience is and how cultural influences shape mental health experiences and preferences beyond what happens in therapy. This means:

• Investing in technology that can bridge cultural and linguistic gaps in mental health care delivery
• Supporting policy and advances in the industry that create novel opportunities for effective mental health access including technology, paraprofessional support, and peer-to-peer models that align with various cultural preferences and values
• Training providers in cultural competency and the importance of personalized care approaches
• Developing culturally informed screening tools that account for different ways of expressing mental health concerns

The future of mental healthcare is not about presuming what works best for different populations but about listening, adapting, and creating flexible solutions that honor diverse needs and preferences. As we move forward, success in mental healthcare will increasingly be measured not just by the number of people we reach but by how effectively we meet them where they are—culturally, generationally, and personally.