Therapists in Green Bay, WI and Nearby Locations

Overview of Mental Health Resources in Green Bay, Wisconsin

The bustling city of Green Bay, Wisconsin is perhaps best known for being home to the National Football League team, the Green Bay Packers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 105,000 people call the city of Green Bay their home. The population has been increasing at a steady rate over the years and is continuing to do so. Given the many appealing characteristics of the area, it is not surprising to see so many families flocking to live there. Amenities, such as grocery stores and gas stations, are abundant. Around just about every street corner is a good place to grab a bite to eat or get some shopping done. Also, those who prefer walking or biking to a destination over driving should be happy to know Green Bay has a good number of walkable neighborhoods as well as plenty of bike lanes. A surprisingly efficient public transportation system is also available for use if that’s how you like to get around.

Most commonly, a family’s decision to move to a new domicile rests on something financial. Job opportunities, such as a raise in salary or a new job altogether, seem to be why people typically choose to pack up and leave for a new life. Green Bay is identical to most other metropolitan areas in that sense. However, not everyone looking for a job in the city can find one, regardless of their willingness to participate in the labor market. Those that can land employment are not always able to maintain their positions with layoffs happening regularly these days. This leaves many families financially struggling.

The economic woes of Green Bay seem to be ancillary to another complex, widespread issue. Experts are saying Green Bay is going through a “mental health crisis” in addition to the rest of the nation. Let’s go over what that means, how mental health got to be so bad in Green Bay, and what you can do to get in contact with a licensed therapist who can help if you are in need.

Unfortunately, mental health is becoming a growing concern for more than just one American city. Similar to every other developed nation in the world, the mental health of the United States is deteriorating as time goes on. Chances are, you probably know someone with a mental condition if not yourself. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 50 percent of all American citizens experience mental illness at some point in their life. Other sources, like the National Alliance for Mental Illness, put that number at just under 20 percent. Narrowing the scope of the statistics fails to yield more hopeful results. A 2017 study commissioned by Mental Health America ranks the state of Wisconsin amongst the top 55 percent of states regarding the prevalence of mental illness and lack of access to care. In this context and for future reference, the term mental illness refers to any behavioral/psychiatric disorder one can be diagnosed with. So, what is causing the status quo in Green Bay to be so bad?

First of all, Green Bay is not well-off from an economic standpoint. Too many families in the area are living paycheck to paycheck, unable to find decent-paying employment. Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau estimate the average income per capita of Green Bay to be almost 20 percent below the national average, coming in at only $24,000 annually. Unfortunately, income can play a major role in one’s mental health. A recent report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration claims adults living under the federal poverty level are more than two times as likely to be living with a diagnosable mental disorder than their higher-earning counterparts.

Green Bay also has an education problem. The average student test score, as per the education department, is 26 percent lower than the national average. It is no secret education often has a profound impact on mental health. Studies tell us receiving a sub-par education makes children far more susceptible to mental illness. Until Green Bay improves its school system, children are going to continue to grow up suffering the consequences.

The Trouble of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Green Bay, Wisconsin

A harsh reality many people are facing across the country is the all-too-often troublesome nature of reaching out to a licensed therapist for help. To the surprise of some, most people who need mental health care in America will not receive any. An especially revealing study from the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 57 percent of Americans who are mentally ill receive no form of care during a given year. Officials are partly blaming the nationwide shortage of mental health professionals.

Experts in Green Bay are pointing fingers at poorly crafted legislation, economic problems, and stigma surrounding mental illness as being the most prolific barriers to care. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, residents of Green Bay are more likely to be living without any form of health insurance. Undoubtedly, many of those people are low-income earners. For them, the out-of-pocket cost of therapy is not economically feasible.

Mental Health Resources in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Fortunately, residents of Green Bay have plenty of options for organizations to go to when seeking mental health assistance. Attention from both state and federal entities means more funding for these places every year. Willow Creek Behavioral Health is a local mental health clinic that dedicates its resources to combatting mental illness in the area. Bellin Health Psychiatric Center has similar offerings.