Bowie, Maryland Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Bowie, Maryland

Bowie, Maryland, which is located in Prince George’s County, has a population of 58,859, a 6.4 percent increase since the 2010 census. The city started as a small railroad stop but has since grown into the largest municipality in the entire county, the third largest city by area in the state and the fifth most populous city in all of Maryland.

Bowie has a lot going for it. It is home to Six Flags America, Watkins Regional Park and Patuxent Research Refuge. The city also has a railroad museum, which boasts a village fashioned after a 20^th century railroad village, and an authentic caboose from 1923. The Bowie Golf and Country Club is a spectacular site, one often used for corporate outings, junior golf programs and private and group lessons for PGA professionals. For these reasons and countless others, Bowie sees a lot of visitors each year.

Bowie in Numbers

When you look at the numbers, Bowie is quite impressive. The median household income in the city is a whopping $108,098. That is almost two times more than the United State’s median of $55,322 and significantly more than Maryland’s median of $76,067. The median is even higher than the neighboring city of Washington DC’s income, which is $93,804. The poverty rate is an impressive 3.6 percent, which is three time lower than the state’s poverty rate and four times lower than the nation’s.

Nearly 50 percent of Maryland residents over the age of 25 years old possess a bachelor’s degree or higher. The rate is 10 percent than the state’s rate and nearly 20 percent more than the national rate.

Though Bowie has a lot going for it, it is not perfect. For instance, the cost of living in the city is high, so high that AreaVibes gave it a cost of living rating of F. The cost of living index is 134, which is 14 points higher than the state’s index and 34 points higher than the nation’s. Housing is the most expensive aspect of living in Bowie. The median property value is $303,900 and the housing index is 172. The average property tax is $3,000 or more.

Though older Bowie residents are well educated, the city itself falls short on education. AreaVibes awarded it a D grade for education, which may be in large part due to the city’s low test scores. National average test scores are 49 percent while Bowie’s average scores are at 42 percent. The student to teacher ratio is 17:1, which may contribute to the low test scores.

For workers who live in Bowie, the average commute time is 35.4 minutes. This is longer than the national average commute time by 10.4 minutes and slightly longer than the state’s average of 31 minutes.

How Demographics May Affect Mental Health

Though Bowie looks good on paper, several of the factors above may contribute to the poor emotional well-being of residents. Some factors that pose a possible risk are the following:

• Wealth: A University of California – Berkeley study found that individuals with inflated feelings of self-worth are prone to narcissistic personality disorder, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety and mania.
• High Cost of Living: Though Bowie residents make more than enough than afford a comfortable lifestyle in most places throughout the U.S., the cost of living in the city is high. The high cost of living may offset the elevated household income, and Bowie residents may still face the same financial stressors those earning average wages and living in average areas face. These stressors can lead to increased stress and anxiety.
• Education: Though older residents may be educated, the state of Bowie’s primary and secondary education system does not bode well for the area. If Bowie children do not receive an adequate education, they may to be able to attain the level of wealth they’re accustomed to, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy, diminished sense of self-worth and other emotional issues as they grow into adulthood.
• Commute: A Scientific American study found that for every minute a person had to commute, his or her mental health suffered slightly more. Sleep deprivation, exhaustion, physical pain and dizziness are just a few symptoms of an extended commute.