Bartlett, Tennessee Therapists

Mental Health in Bartlett, Tennessee

Bartlett is a community located in the southwestern corner of Tennessee in Shelby County, northeast of Memphis. In its earliest days, Bartlett served as a way station along the stagecoach route, then later became a railroad depot. Today, the population of Bartlett is estimated at 59,000 people, and its claims to fame include the Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center, as well as several historic houses.

Life in Bartlett, Tennessee

Bartlett is a prosperous city, especially compared with the rest of Shelby County and Tennessee as a whole. The yearly median household income at the state and county levels is approximately even at about $47,000, whereas the median household income for Bartlett is nearly twice that at $81,583. Median home values in Bartlett are higher than they are statewide as well: $182,962 compared with $157,700. There is also a very low poverty rate in Bartlett of 6.7%.

Bartlett is also a well-educated city. The percentage of adults who hold at least a high school diploma or at least a bachelor’s degree are 94.4 and 34.5, respectively, which are both higher than the national percentages.

One area in which Bartlett can be said to be lacking is racial and ethnic diversity. Over 70% of the population identify as white/Caucasian, while 20.4% identify as black/African American. The next most populous ethnic group in Bartlett is those who identify as Hispanic/Latino at 3.3%, followed by Asian Americans at 2.6%.

Mental illness can affect anyone, at any age. In the United States, one in five individuals over the age of 65 has a diagnosable mental disorder. In Tennessee alone, 4.4% of adults experience serious mental illness, 7% have depression, and 20% of adults experience mental illness in one form or another, ranging from mild to severe. The latter two statistics for Tennessee are higher than for the United States as a whole. 4% of adults in Tennessee have serious thoughts of suicide, and suicide ranks number ten among Tennessee’s leading causes of death.

When it comes to mental health concerns, perhaps the most vulnerable age group in Tennessee is adolescents. 10% of high school students in Tennessee, including 12% of girls and 7% of boys, reported at least one suicide attempt during the preceding year. Suicide is the number two leading cause of death among Tennessee residents aged 10 to 14. The percentage of Tennesseans aged 12 to 17 who reported a major depressive episode, defined as a period of symptoms of depression combined with a loss of pleasure and interest in normal activities lasting at least two weeks, was nearly 10%.

At the county level, residents of Shelby County participating in a study spanning from 2012 to 2014 ranked mental health number four on a list of the 18 health issues in the state that required the most attention. The percentage of Shelby County residents who had been diagnosed with a mental health condition by a physician was 7.3%.

Access to Mental Health Care in Bartlett

The ratio of Shelby County residents to mental health providers is 2,299 to 1. This is better than the statewide ratio of 3,470 to 1. At the city level, Bartlett’s ratio is not ideal, but it is better than either the state or county level at 819 to 1.

Research shows that, out of the individuals in Shelby County who need mental health services, 13% do not receive them, and they cite several different reasons besides access to services. Approximately one-third of the respondents, 29.9%, cited an inability to pay for services. Related to the cost of services 3.7% of respondents reported that health insurance does not cover any mental health treatment or counseling and 5.6% of respondents reported that insurance coverage would not pay enough of the cost.

Other reasons given for Shelby County residents not receiving mental health care include the following:

• Treatment too far away/no transportation
• Didn’t think treatment was needed or would help
• No time for treatment
• “Thought I could handle the problem without treatment”

Find a Counselor or Therapist in Bartlett

People report many reasons for not seeking help, including money and time concerns, personal perceptions, and societal pressures. However, mental illness is a medical condition, like heart disease or diabetes, that can be diagnosed and treated.