Denton, Texas Therapists

Overview of Mental Health Resources in Denton, Texas

The delightful city of Denton, Texas serves as a fantastic example of the joyous nature of small-town living. A 2017 report from the U.S. Census Bureau tells us only little over 100,000 people are living in Denton. The population is diverse and educated, enjoying typical southern middle-class lives. Amenities within the city are bountiful and easy to access. Around almost every corner is a good place to grab a bite to eat, get some shopping out of the way, or even catch a show. Downtown is notoriously vibrant and easily walkable. The town seems to frolic in culture given the fact several major music and art events prop up every year.

Research indicates that the primary reason a family chooses to move to Denton is identical to most other major metropolitan areas in America: a job opportunity. However, not everyone in Denton can receive a job, regardless of their willingness to participate in the job market. Additionally, those that do manage to land a job will not necessarily be able to maintain it. Layoffs happen every day. Unfortunately, the city of Denton is not immune to economic troubles. The unemployment rate in the city is almost 15 percent higher than the national average. However, the woes of a slow economy are ancillary to another complex, long-lasting issue. Experts are saying the United States, and Denton, particularly, is experiencing a “mental health crisis.” Let’s take a look at what mental health looks like in Denton, what is causing the status quo to be so poor, and go over what you can do to reach out to a local therapist if you are in need.

As mentioned before, the concern of mental health is not one exclusive to Denton. In fact, the entire state of Texas is feeling the effects of a worsening mental health crisis. As per a 2017 report published by Mental Health America, Texas ranks amongst the top 50 percent of states regarding the prevalence of mental illness in both adults and youths. Moreover, a study from the National Alliance on Mental Illness suggests that roughly one in five Americans suffers from a mental illness. In this context and for future reference, the term mental illness refers to any diagnosable psychiatric/behavioral condition, ranging in severity. For example, clinical depression and bipolar disorder. So, what exactly is contributing to making Denton’s mental illness rates so high?

Firstly, Denton’s economy is less than ideal for the majority of people living there. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average income per capita in the city of Denton is almost 20 percent lower than the national average. The high cost of living in the area does not help the situation either.

Jobs are also hard to come by, relative to the rest of the country. The unemployment rate in Denton is a significant 14 percent higher than the national average. Of course, unemployment tends to breed poverty. Unfortunately, Denton is no exception in that regard. There is also a notable statistical link between poverty and mental illness.  According to a recent study commissioned by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), adults living below the federal poverty level are more than two times as likely to suffer from a mental health condition than those with higher income. Research suggests that poverty may also intensify the experience of mental illness because of the lack of resources available to put towards treatment options, such as counseling.

A strong economy is essential to a population resilient to exceedingly high rates of mental illness. Regrettably, the economic situations of many in the region reflect a failure in that area.

The Trouble of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Denton, Texas

The unfortunate reality is that plenty of people in America are finding it increasingly difficult to find a high-quality therapist ready to help. That is in large part because of a nationwide shortage of mental health professionals ready to care for patients. A staggering statistic in this field comes from the National Institute of Mental Health. They estimate that a majority of mentally ill Americans do not receive any form of treatment, despite a possible necessity. Experts also point fingers at poorly executed public policy, poverty, and stigma as being reasons for the abysmally low number of people who receive mental health care.

Denton’s problems concerning the lack of access to mental health care heavily stem from bad legislative policies. As per 2017 statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 12 percent of people in the county are going through life without any form of health insurance. The absence of insurance coupled with low income is a reality many Americans are facing daily. For them, the out-of-pocket expense of therapy sessions is simply unaffordable, and thus, not considered.

Mental Health Resources in Denton, Texas

Thankfully those living in Denton have a pretty good number of institutions to choose who to receive mental health assistance from. For example, the well-known University Behavioral Health Hospital of Denton is a local psychiatric hospital providing a wide array of services to those in the area. Premier Care Behavioral Health Clinic is a mental health clinic that’s been servicing the community for years. They focus on treating mental illness in both adults and youths.