An Overview of Mental Health in Dublin, California
Dublin, California, is home to 61,656 individuals, the majority of which are between 30 and 39 years of age. The city, which is located just 35 miles outside of the busy San Francisco Bay, has consistently been ranked as the fastest growing city in Alameda County. What started out as a modest-sized city of approximately 14,000 residents in 1982 is projected to be the home of 70,000+ residents in the coming years. Money, which dubbed the city the seventh best place to live in the United States, attributes the city’s fast growth to beautiful weather (260 days of sunshine a year), the abundance of recreational activities and the food and shopping. However, while Dublin is clearly an ideal place to live, it does, like every other city across the nation, have some underlying issues. Some of those underlying issues may affect certain members of the population on an emotional level.
Dublin, California, Demographics
Dublin is an affluent city. The median household income is $137, 310, a figure that is 45 percent greater than the county’s, 91 percent greater than the state’s and 127 percent greater than the nation’s. Where there is a high median household income, however, there is a high cost of living. After the cost of shelter, transportation, food and beverages, healthcare and utilities, the average household has little more than $25,000 left over to pay off debts, put into savings or to simply have fun. There are also taxes to take into consideration. Personal income tax in the area is as high as 13.3 percent. The poverty rate in Dublin is 3.6 percent, which is far lower than that of the U.S.’s rate of 12.3 percent.
The gender-wage gap is prominent in Dublin. The average male worker earns $122,835 while a female in the same role and with the similar experience and qualifications earns just $80,055.
The majority of Dublin workers work in demanding and high-stress fields. For instance, the most common jobs held by residents are in the field of mathematics, management, computers, administrative and business and financial operations. The most common industries are science and technology, manufacturing, healthcare, retail and finance and insurance.
In terms of diversity, Dublin is very. 41 percent of residents are White. 36.6 percent are Asian, 10.1 percent are Hispanic, 5.81 percent are Black and 5.26 percent are two plus ethnicities.
Factors That May Contribute to Poor Mental Health in Dublin
When you look at income, poverty rates and diversity, you might think that Dublin residents don’t experience mental problems. However, when you consider factors such as the gender-wage gap, high-stress jobs and the high cost of living, it may be easier to see why so many residents live with emotional disorders.
Many people assume that only those who live in poverty live with mental illness. This assumption is far from inaccurate. In fact, wealth is often associated with an inflated sense of power, which has been linked to both bipolar disorder and narcissism. Moreover, individuals who place a great deal of emphasis on the pursuit of power tend to devalue personal relationships, a fact that can be very damaging in the long-term.
The gender-wage gap is also a huge issue. According to one report, the ever-present gender-wage cap continues to be a huge contributor to the high rates of anxiety and depression in working women. Working women are 2.5 times more likely to experience anxiety than their male counterparts and 1.86 percent more likely to experience depression. Researchers attribute this mostly to wage inequality.
High cost of living does not bode well for mental health, either. According to AreaVibes, Dublin’s cost of living index is 185, nearly two times the cost of living index in the U.S. It is significantly greater than California’s index, and California is a decidedly expensive state. In fact, the majority of Californian’s claim that while they do stress about mortgage, taxes, etc., the number of financial stress factor is the everyday costs of living. Dubliners, who have approximately $25,000 spending money throughout the year, likely stress over buying everything from a gallon of milk to gas to HOA fees.
Find the Care You Need
California is one of the friendlier states for mental health care. However, though Dubliners may have the means to pursue care, many likely don’t out of embarrassment or pride. If this is the case with you, and if you want to find the care you need in a discreet manner, use E-Counseling’s mental health directory.
