Mental Health Isn’t a Bonus – It’s a Basic Need

For over 20 years, I’ve worked as a Clinical Social Worker in schools, nonprofits, crisis response, and private practice. Across all of these roles, one truth has stayed constant: mental health is not optional.

Yet even now, in 2025, too many schools and companies treat mental health support as an “extra” — something nice to have if there’s a little extra in the budget, like a yoga class or free snacks in the break room.

That mindset is not only outdated — it’s dangerous.

We don’t treat physical health that way. Most workplaces and schools are built with fitness in mind — gym memberships, wellness rooms, standing desks. Why? Because physical wellness improves performance, reduces absenteeism, and saves money over time.

Mental health is no different. When people have access to consistent, quality mental health care, they’re more focused, more productive, and more motivated. Without it, we see increases in burnout, absenteeism, substance use, conflict, and even violence.

That’s true in schools. That’s true in companies. This is  even true in high-revenue industries like sports and entertainment.

Think about it: even elite athletes and C-suite executives — the “moneymakers” — depend on their mental readiness, motivation, and emotional regulation to perform. If they’re injured, unwell, or unfocused, the whole organization suffers. They need therapy too — and they get it. Quietly.

But here’s the disconnect: the professionals supporting them often earn a fraction of what other critical roles do, despite carrying the heavy emotional and psychological responsibility.

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) — with a master’s degree, clinical hours, licensing, and often a post – masters degree and ongoing education — might make half or less of what a corporate administrator, assistant CEO, or mid-level executive earns. That is if they are fortunate enough to have a career somewhere their work is looked at as essential.

Meanwhile, to become a social worker is increasingly cost-prohibitive. State schools can now cost up to $40,000 a year for an undergraduate degree, before even factoring in graduate school  and a state licensing exam. Then, only with further years of supervision and another exam can you obtain a clinical (LSW). If you have a specialty there maybe more training needed in that area. Imagine investing over $100,000 in your education — only to graduate into a field where your salary barely covers your student loan payments. Approximately, 240,000 without the MSW licensing exam for a state school with graduate school.

That’s not sustainable today. This could easily push away the next generation of passionate, capable mental health workers — What is going to happen to those who need it the most?

If we continue this way, the excited creative problem solvers of tomorrow will not think twice about this field today. There will be fewer seasoned professionals in schools, hospitals, agencies, and private practice. The people who stay will burn out or leave for better-paying, less emotionally demanding work. The entire system will suffer.

The bottom line:

  • Mental health isn’t a luxury — it’s foundational.

  • It needs to be built into every system, just like physical health.

  • And the people doing the work deserve pay that reflects their impact.

If we want a healthier, more resilient society — in classrooms, boardrooms, policing cities and running our schools — we must invest in care, not crisis.

You may not know who goes to therapy — and that’s a good thing. That means it’s working. That means they’re safe and learning coping skills.

Let’s keep people safe. Let’s value the professionals who help them stay well. Let’s make emotional wellbeing a real priority — not just a talking point.

Mental health care isn’t a sideline. It’s the bedrock that everything rests on.  Let’s look at it differently, and determining who should be compensating— those who provide it — like it matters.

#MentalHealthIsHealth #BuiltInNotAddOn  #SupportTheSupporters