Beaverton, Oregon Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Beaverton, Oregon

Beavertown, Oregon, is the second-largest city in Washington County and lies less than ten minutes away from the larger city of Portland. Beaverton had a population of just over 97,000 people as of 2016 and is now recognized as the state’s sixth-largest city. It also hosts a large number of well-known corporations including Nike, Comcast Cable and IBM. This might explain the city’s relatively low unemployment rate of 3.0 percent, which is .7 lower than the national average.

Despite the job opportunities available in Beaverton, some of its residents are still faced with the challenge of finding mental health care and certain services they require for problems such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and problems with addiction. Because these resources can save lives, it is vital to understand why people in the area might be experiencing such a shortage of help, as well as what could be causing some of the most common mental health problems in the city.

Mental Health in Oregon By the Numbers

Oregon recently ranked among the top ten states that see the most suicides in the country. Some of the statistics related to these incidents include a variety of people from all walks of life:

• Males took their own lives more than females in all age groups for the state
• Nearly half of males in the state aged 12-17 diagnosed with depression did not receive treatment
• The suicide rate for veterans in the state is twice than the national average of 13 per 100,000 people

These statistics show that Oregon has a high rate of mental illness that leads to suicidal behavior. However, it is just as important to discover why these numbers are climbing and why people in Beaverton who suffer from mental health problems are not getting the treatment they need.

Risk Factors for Mental Health Problems in Beaverton

While there are a variety of factors that can trigger mental health problems, Beaverton has those that are specific to the area and include employment, ethnic and environmental concerns:

• Oregon has lenient gun laws, which give suicidal people a simpler means to harm themselves
• The timber industry is in flux, which leads to greater unemployment for those who work in this sector
• The ratio of Caucasians to people of African-American or Native descent is highly disproportionate, which may lead to feelings of isolation for minority communities

One of the greatest risk factors for people seeking help with mental health issues is the lack of professional help in the area. This is not only an apparent crisis for the city, but for the entire state as well, where only one professional is available for every 1,000 individuals. Those who live in Beaverton or outside of the city, where public transport is not available, likely have trouble reaching help as well. The cost of mental health care is a factor for 13.4 percent of the population who lives below the city’s poverty line, which is higher than the overall national rate of 12.3 percent.

Finding Mental Health Resources in Beaverton

Some of the statistics related to mental health care in Beaverton can be distressing. However, residents do have several resources they can turn to when it comes to getting help for anxiety, depression, suicide prevention and specialized services for veterans:

• The Washington County Crisis Line offers 24/7 assistance for those in need, along with a specialized child abuse line.
• The Unity Center for Behavioral Health has walk-in services for those seeking mental health treatment.
• Veterans returning to civilian life can find free mental health services at the Returning Veterans Project, which offers help to post-9/11 servicemen and women.
• Cascadia Behavioral Health Care offers mental health and addiction recovery services for low-income individuals. They have facilities in a variety of locations all over the Portland area.

It is important to remember that these services provide discreet mental health care and will not share any medical or treatment information with others unless directed to. Some people who need help hesitate out of shame or embarrassment, but it may help to understand that patient privacy is protected under most of these services’ regulations.

Finding help for whatever mental health services you require can be accomplished with E-Counseling. This directory can help match you with a therapist who can treat your issues and assist you with medications and counseling that may improve your mental health. Finding the right therapist can be the first step in healing your mind and heart, so reach out and begin your journey today.