ATLANTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - According to the National Alliance for Mental illness, 1.4 million Georgians have a mental health condition.
More than half didn't receive treatment last year, with most of them citing cost.
"If you don't have insurance, it's like $250 an hour. I guess I won't get help," said Maleeka Hollaway.
She's glad she found another option.
Her therapist, Jonathan Tucker, helped her when she was a danger to herself.
"Companies think because it doesn't make money, 'We shouldn't deal with it, bother with it'" Tucker said. "So because of that, access affordability is going to continue to be limited."
Tucker, one of the state's 14,000 trained mental health professionals, says many people don't know they can file a complaint to get insurance coverage under Georgia's Mental Health Parity Act.
When it was passed in 2022, the law was seen as a huge win for making sure insurance companies cover mental health and substance abuse like they would chemo treatments or a broken arm.
But people say it's not happening.
Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, co-author of the legislation, says it needs teeth.
"The insurance industry is blocking too many reforms that we need to move forward with," she said.
At the Carter Center's Mental Health Parity Day, Oliver announced incoming legislation to require insurance companies to enforce parity.
It's in line with the goal of former first lady Rosalynn Carter, a champion for mental health parity.
Carter Center Mental Health Program Director Eve Byrd says to advance mental health care policy, Georgians need to know their rights.
Organizers are going door to door with a new campaign.
"Our work will not be over until every Georgian knows if they have private or public health insurance," Byrd said. "Their insurer must cover their mind on par with the rest of their body."