Beaumont, Texas Therapists

Overview of Mental Health Resources in Beaumont, Texas

For many, the pretty southern city of Beaumont, Texas serves as the classic example of southern living. According to 2017 statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the city is home to approximately 119,000 people. While Beaumont may not be on the same scale as Dallas, for example, there is still an impressive amount of people living there. It is not hard to miss the appealing factors of Beaumont. The available amenities are easy to find and are very accessible. Around almost every street corner is a good place to grab a bite to eat or have a fun shopping experience. Entertainment is also quite abundant, making plans on how to spend free time a breeze. With a bevy of museums and buildings with rich histories, it is difficult to get bored.

The most common motivational factor behind one’s decision to move his or her family to a new town has to do with a job opportunity. In Beaumont, the situation is identical. Typically, people choose to move there because of a promotion or a new job altogether. However, not everyone who is searching for employment will be able to find it. Moreover, those who do manage to land a job are not always able to maintain it; for example, layoffs happen regularly. The job market in the area is quite poor relative to the rest of the nation. Beaumont’s economic problems are ancillary to another complex issue. Experts are saying the city of Beaumont is going through a “mental health crisis.” Let’s break down what that means, how Beaumont is dealing with mental health problems, and how you can get in contact with a licensed therapist who can help if you are in need.

Unfortunately, an overall deterioration of mental health is something the country as a whole has to deal with. An especially alarming recent report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests a whopping 50 percent of Americans are diagnosed with a mental health condition during their life. Texas is not pushing through the crisis with much grace. A 2017 report commissioned by Mental Health America ranks Texas amongst the top 60 percent of states regarding the prevalence of mental illness. In this context and for future reference, the term mental illness/mental health condition refers to any psychiatric disorder one can be diagnosed with. For example, bipolar disorder or clinical depression. So, what is negatively impacting the mental health of Beaumont residents, specifically?

Firstly, Beaumont’s economy is not in an ideal position at the moment. Plenty of people are experiencing the harshness of living on low or no income. As mentioned before, the rate of jobless individuals is quite high relative to neighboring cities in similar situations. Of course, unemployment breeds poverty. Beaumont is not an exception. According to Area Vibes, the city of Beaumont’s poverty level is almost 40 percent higher than the national average. Regrettably, the link between poverty and mental health is quite significant. Poverty is known to exacerbate the experience of living with mental illness as well as cause mental health conditions. As per a recent report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Services and Administration (SAMHSA), American adults living below the federal poverty level are more than two times as likely to suffer from a mental illness. It is without a doubt that the sub-par state of Beaumont’s economy is negatively affecting the city’s overall state of mental health.

Beaumont also has an important crime problem. According to statistics sourced from the FBI, the overall crime rate in the city of Beaumont is 90 percent higher than the national average. Violent crime, in particular, is something Beaumont experiences disproportionately more than much of the rest of the United States. Unfortunately, crime negatively contributes to the poverty rate as well as the mental health of Beaumont. It is no secret that areas with less crime enjoy a less stressfully high rate of mental illness.

The Trouble of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Beaumont, Texas

The harsh reality of the situation is that more and more Americans are finding the process of reaching out to a therapist as being troublesome. Experts are partly blaming the nationwide shortage of mental health care professionals ready to provide treatment to patients. They are also pointing fingers at ineffective public policy, poverty and unemployment, and stigma surrounding mental illness/treatment.

In the case of Beaumont, Texas, poorly crafted and ineffective public policy is causing many to go through life without insurance. According to 2017 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the rate of individuals who lack any form of insurance is more than three times the national average, coming in at almost 25 percent. In other words, one out of every four people living in Beaumont has an absence of health insurance. A good portion of people without health insurance are also low-income earners. This means that the out-of-pocket expense of counseling simply is not an option as it is not economically feasible.

Mental Health Resources in Beaumont, Texas

Thankfully, there is some good news from all of this. Because of the worsening state of mental health in the city, officials have taken notice and recognized the need for improvement. As the government allocates more funds to combat the issue, more organizations open their doors in the area to people who need mental health care. Renowned institutions such as the Baptist Beaumont Behavioral Health Center dedicate their resources to servicing the community with a focus on mental health.