Usually long wait times in the US are provider specific. I’ve also experienced long wait times, but it’s because I wanted to go to the top academic system in my city.
If I was willing to go to any specialist, I could have seen one pretty quickly.
In this case, this was across the board for the types of specialists I wanted to see. I had called dozens of practices, and spent hours with insurances representatives trying to find a provider who wasn't booked for the next 5 months. For mental health specialists, I had to wait on two different waiting lists for both someone who could prescribe medication and for someone who provides therapy. Specialists who could do both had even longer waiting lists.
It isn't just the mental health field. I have a colleague with a daughter who needed an addiction specialist, and that was another 6 month waiting list. People die waiting on those lists.
If I was willing to go to any specialist, I could have seen one pretty quickly.