Grand Prairie, Texas Therapists

Overview of Mental Health Resources in Grand Prairie, Texas

Amarillo is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  It is the 15^th largest city in the State of Texas, boasting a population of close to 180,000. It is right outside of Dallas so it is close to one of the largest metropolitan centers in the United States. The population is made up of all cultures. About half of its citizens are white and the other half are minorities. In this sense, it is no more unique than any other area in the country.

The median family income in Grand Prairie is over $60,000 which is significantly higher than the rest of the United States. However, this does not mean the city doesn’t have its share of poverty. The poverty level is almost 14%. With the average age being just 32 years old, the city is hoping to improve these numbers over the next decade.

Mental Health Statistics for Grand Prairie

Unlike many other areas in Texas, Grand Prairie is working hard to meet its citizens’ needs for mental health care. They are experimenting with different approaches to care that seem to increase their ability to meet the demands placed on them by their city.

What the experts in Grand Prairie realized is that you cannot treat the body without treating the mind. They are working toward integrating health care and mental health treatment to make sure people are treated as a whole. They have found that with the rise of alcohol and substance abuse, it is important that the resources be offered to people early on.

Impact of Not Receiving Treatment in Grand Prairie, Texas

The number of mental health professionals in Grand Prairie is lower than many cities. There are only about 121 for every 100,000 people in the city. However, there are actually twice as many mental health professionals available as there are primary physicians. Grand Prairie seems to be taking the city’s need for mental health treatment seriously.

A lack of mental health resources can lead to many societal issues, such as:

• Joblessness
• Suicide
• Depression
• Incarceration
• Homelessness

Hopefully, the city’s renewed emphasis on securing mental health professionals will help decrease the number of people who are lacking in mental health treatment.

What Makes Grand Prairie Unique When It Comes to Mental Health?

Grand Prairie is situated amongst some very large cities in Texas. It is not that large a city itself, however. It does suffer from the same issues as other cities in the United States. Some of the things that make Grand Prairie unique when it comes to mental health issues include:

• Culture: Grand Prairie is one of the most humid cities in the country. It is located in the sub-tropical part of the state and its residents suffer from high humidity most of the year. This can lead to breathing problems which, in general, can cause anxiety and other mental health issues. Also, people can only put up with so much of this type of weather before they are frustrated and miserable.
• Economic: The job market in Grand Prairie is mostly factory work and retail businesses. These jobs don’t pay very well. However, there are a lot of major companies that are located in Grand Prairie. People can get decent jobs and this is why the unemployment rate is not too high.
• Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate in Grand Prairie is only 3.8% which is on par with the national average. It is lower than many other areas in Texas. However, the jobs are not very glamorous. Manufacturing and retail jobs are hard work.
• Socioeconomic Factors: The median income in Grand Prairie, as mentioned above, is higher than the national average. However, property values are low. The average house is only worth about $132,000. People don’t tend to leave the area because they cannot make a great amount of equity on their homes.

Divorce Rate in Grand Prairie

The divorce rate in Grand Prairie is very low at just 4.9%. This is lower than the national average and half of what the divorce rate is comparable cities in Texas. Part of this is because the average citizen of Grand Prairie is younger. Many haven’t married at all so they have no need to get divorced.

Another reason why this number may seem low is because a lot of younger people simply aren’t getting married. Perhaps if people had access to couples’ counseling, they would be more confident in their relationships and would be willing to marry.

Mental Health Resources in Grand Prairie

Hopefully, the trend of improved mental health resources will continue in Grand Prairie. Like many cities, however, the issue with drug and alcohol abuse is getting worse in Grand Prairie. It is getting harder and harder for people to find mental health resources for these types of issues.

There are about 200 mental health professionals in Grand Prairie. This doesn’t sound like a lot but it is more than many other cities in Texas offer. It is important that people know how to find these resources. Having resources means nothing if people don’t know about them.