Eugene, Oregon Therapists

Mental Health Issues in Eugene, Oregon

Located about 50 miles from the Oregon coast, Eugene is the second most populous city in the state of Oregon after Portland. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Eugene’s population at 172.662 residents as of 2019. Eugene is also the county seat of Lane County and one of the principal cities of the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan statistical area.

Eugene has a median household income of $50,962, which is significantly lower than both the state and national averages as per the U.S. Census Bureau. Furthermore, a staggering 20.4% of the city’s population lives in poverty. In comparison, 13.2% of Oregon and 12.3% of the United States live below the poverty line. The Census Bureau also reports that 11.7% of Eugene’s residents do not have health insurance coverage. Although this percentage is higher than the average for the state of Oregon (8.2%), it is pretty representative of the United States, where the average percentage of uninsured citizens is 10.2%.

The State of Mental Health in the Eugene, Oregon Community

 The Lane County Community Mental Health Program audit reports that one out of every 35 residents over the age of 18, or approximately 8,872 individuals in the county suffer from a severe or persistent mental illness such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, or other personality or anxiety disorder. Additionally, fewer than 15% of those individuals can keep meaningful employment. The audit also reports that 30% of the homeless population in the county has self-identified as an individual suffering from a mental illness.

Individuals with severe mental or substance abuse conditions often end up incarcerated instead of in the appropriate care. The audit states that an estimated 20% of jail inmates and 15% of prison inmates in the United States have a serious mental illness. People suffering from mental illness are also more susceptible to suicide or other untimely death. Compared to the general population, these individuals die on average 25 years earlier.

In addition to severe mental illnesses, the Eugene community also struggles with stress, depression, and other emotional problems – milder conditions sometimes associated with experiencing “poor mental health days” in community health assessments and reports. According to County Health Rankings, Lane County residents experience on average 4.2 mentally unhealthy days in the past month. While this number is on par with the average for Oregon, it is higher than the top-performing counties in the country where residents reported 3.1 poor mental health days in the past 30 days.

Mental Health Care Options in Eugene, Oregon

Eugene residents in need of mental or behavioral health services have several options for receiving treatment through Lane County’s Community Mental Health Program, a state-mandated program providing community-based mental health services in an attempt to prevent hospitalization or incarceration of residents suffering from mental illnesses. Lane County’s Community Mental Health Program includes the following providers:

• Lane County Behavioral Health
• White Bird Clinic
• ShelterCare
• Centro Latino
• Laurel Hill
• South Lane Mental Health
• Options Counseling
• Peace Harbor Medical Center

These organizations provide a variety of services including outpatient care, crisis services, housing and employment assistance, individual and group therapy, case, and medication management, and peer support.

In addition to the Community Mental Health Program providers, Eugene has a well-established network of private therapists and counselors. You can find more information about these providers and the care services they offer in our professional directory. We feature only top specialists with an established reputation in their medical field. If you choose to work with a private mental health care provider, consider the following questions:

• What is their specialization?
• What conditions have they treated in the past?
• What reviews have previous patients left for them online?
• What insurance plans do they accept?
• Do they accept new patients and have available appointments?
• Do you feel comfortable discussing personal matters with this provider?

Remember that if you or a loved one is currently experiencing a mental or emotional crisis, you should go to the nearest ER or the 24/7 Hourglass Community Crisis Center in Eugene. You can also call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255.