The amount of the population with a lack of trust in the medical field has jumped in recent years, with one study concluding a prevalence of 32% (Angelo et al. 2022). It was found to be most prominent in marginalized populations, lower income households and those with a lack of access to healthcare/education. It is important we recognize such circumstances as a flaw in our systems rather than a result of individual choice. Often times, members of the population with a lack of faith in those with power, are simply responding rationally to previous experiences of violence, discrimination the overall dominance of the biomedical field. Such circumstances are further reinforced by societal structures (Jaiswal and Halkitis 2019).

It is unfair that as a result of these processes, many individuals delay in seeking medical attention when needed. As a society, we should be coming together to promote inclusivity within our health care systems, reaching out to individuals who may not have access to supports, or have dealt with previous medical trauma.

It was found that amongst individuals with PTSD, there is a significantly reduced adherence with medical guidance, particularly in those that suffer from the disorder as a result of medical trauma (Wasson et al. 2018). These individuals are not reluctant by choice, many have repeatedly been shown that their trauma is likely to be doubted, sometimes even dismissed. This is an unspoken flaw within our societal structure, and such events are often passed off as a "symptom" of PTSD, when in reality this is far from the case. We must learn to understand the origins of medical mistrust, not pathologize it!