Daly City, California Therapists

Overview of Mental Health Resources in Daly City, California

Looking for a mental health professional can be challenging, no matter where you live. However, despite the unique characteristics of a region such as Daly City, California, there are experienced professionals available there who can offer you the quality mental health care you deserve.

Named after businessman and landowner John Daly, San Mateo County’s largest city was formed when Daly allowed the use of his property by those displaced by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and its subsequent fires.

Its location just south of San Francisco gives residents access to the world-class restaurants and cultural attractions of one of the world’s premier cities, and Daly City is also home to the Westlake Shopping Center, the Cow Palace sports arena, golf courses, and the Century 20 Daly City Megaplex movie theaters.

Mental Health Statistics for Daly City

The number of those with self-reported mental health problems is no higher than the state average in San Mateo County, although a disproportionate number of those reporting were of Hispanic or Asian descent.

The suicide rate of San Mateo County is 17 per 100,000, with the majority being age 65 or older. This exceeds the national rate of 13 per 100,000 recorded in 2014–the highest in 28 years.

Adult alcohol consumption between 2004 – 2010 was 18.6%, which was noticeably higher than the state average of 16.6%, and the area has a higher-than-average number of Alzheimer’s patients as well.

Daly City’s Unique Mental Health Concerns

When it comes to causes of mental illness in Daly City, some weather, crime, and economic status factors are unique to the region which likely has an effect:

• The high number of Alzheimer’s patients may have to do with the higher median age of the region (38.8 years in Daly City vs. 36 years statewide)—a factor which may also influence the high number of suicides in those 65 or older in the region.
• With its damp coastal conditions and a high number of overcast days, the weather in Daly City can add to the prevalence of depression in the region. This may be in connection with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which studies show is a real factor for those living in gloomy weather conditions.
• The 2016 crime index for Daly City was 143.8, which is substantially lower than the national average of 280.5. This likely has a positive effect on mental health in the region.
• Median household income came in at $79,346 for 2016, which is above the US national average of $55,000, and the state average of $63,783. Unemployment rates for the city were also significantly lower in 2015 at 3.6% than the state average of 5.5% for the same year. Together, these factors are also likely to have a positive influence on mental health in the region.

However, the poverty rates of Asians (37.3% )and Hispanics (24.3%) are substantially higher than those of whites (20.3%) in Daly City, which is likely a factor in the higher rates of Hispanic and Asian depression as well.

Divorce Rates

Another factor that affects mental health is the divorce rate, which is lower in Daly City at 8% than the national average of 11%, or the California average of 10%. This may be due to a variety of reasons, such as the higher average age, or high education level (42.1% with a bachelor’s degree or higher).

Another reason for the low divorce rate in the Bay Area may be the high location quotient of marriage counselors, which is 2.65, making access to marriage counseling amongst the best in the nation.

Mental Health Resources in Daly City

There are currently around 311 mental healthcare professionals for every 100,000 people in Daly City, which is substantially above the national average of 7.79 per every 100,000 citizens.

This makes it one of the best areas in the country for those seeking the services of a mental health professional.