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Grand Junction, located in the high desert along the western Colorado River, is the largest city in Mesa County. Affectionately called “Junctown” and “The Western Slope”, Grand Junction is a world-class mountain biker destination. Riders in the western states travel from as far as California to ride a multitude of single-track trail systems. Mountain climbers also find much to love about the Grand Junction area.
The beauty and amenities of Grand Junction place the city on many of America’s top-ten lists for hunting and fishing, favorable small-business development and other unique attractions. Tourists visit Grand Junction for its excellent skiing. Powderhorn Mountain Resort is a well-known destination among the area’s popular ski resorts.
Although Grand Junction excels in many areas, mental health issues are still a major concern. Residents have a tough streak of independence and self-reliance. There is a strong stigma attached to seeking help. Many Westerners view the need for mental health treatment as a character weakness.
The National Alliance of Mental Illness reports that over 200,000 residents in Colorado live with untreated severe mental illness that can sometimes lead to desperation. Unfortunately, those who commit suicide often do not seek treatment. Individuals with suicidal depression who do seek help often go to primary care doctors instead of mental health professionals.
The lack of health care professionals is a significant problem in rural areas. Mentally ill individuals travel to Grand Junction for help, but there are not enough licensed providers in the city to prescribe psychiatric medication. The availability of psychological counseling and therapy is also inadequate.
Grand Junction’s population is 62,475. The city has shown significant growth between each ten-year census interval. The city’s economic strength predicts that the population growth trend will continue throughout the coming decade.
White residents in Grand Junction account for 92.6 percent of the population. Of that number, almost 11 percent are Hispanic or Latino. Those who identify as Mixed or Other represent 4.3 percent, followed by Black at 1.1 percent, Asian at 1.1 percent, Native American at 0.7 percent and Pacific Islander at 0.3 percent.
Education levels show 9.26 percent of residents attended some High School while 25.16 percent achieved High School graduation. 24.08 percent attended some college, and 8.62 percent completed an Associates Degree. Those who received a Bachelors Degree or higher represent 32.88 percent. Education level correlated with earning power. Those with the highest levels of education earned more than twice the amount of those who did not complete High School.
When comparing Grand Junction citizens who achieved graduate or post-graduate college education, females outnumbered males by 7 percent. When comparing their earnings, however, females earned 20 percent less income than males.
The overall poverty rate for Grand Junction is 18.29 percent, exceeding the Colorado State poverty rate of 11 percent.
The overall divorce rate is 14.6 percent while those who are separated account for 1.8 percent. Native Americans represented over 58 percent of the overall divorce rate while Hispanic / Latinos represented the lowest divorce rate at 8.5 percent.
Grand Junction is less safe than 95 percent of the cities in the United States, one of the worst crime statistics in the country. Citizens who live in Grand Junction’s chance of becoming a victim of property crime is 1 out of every 22 citizens, and the chance of being a victim of violent crime is 1 in every 173 citizens.
Poverty and crime correlate with low access levels to mental health providers. The high divorce rate causes broken families; better availability of marital and family counselors could prevent broken families. Significant barriers to mental health services in Grand Junction include:
Grand Junction residents deserve to achieve a better life by taking the first step on the road to recovery. Successful treatment of mental illness is still possible for the citizens of Grand Junction. E-Counseling’s directory can effectively link those who are suffering from mental illness with certified therapists who can help improve lives.