Harlingen, Texas Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Harlingen, Texas

The city of Harlingen, Texas is located in Cameron County and is known for having an extremely low cost of living. With a population of 65,467 people in an area of about 40 square miles, Harlingen is the fourth largest city in the Rio Grande Valley.

Home to the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, Harlingen is known for being a great bird-watching location. The entire Rio Grande Valley is known for having over 500 species of birds that visitors enjoy seeing. There are also many other recreational activities residents enjoy in Harlingen including many beautiful parks and trails, several public golf courses, opportunities for fishing and hunting, plenty of shopping, and easy access to South Padre Beach.

Despite such natural beauty and activities to enjoy, there are many challenges the community of Harlingen faces including:

• Poverty: The poverty rate is incredibly high in Harlingen. Overall, 29.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The rate is even worse for Hispanic residents, who make up 80.5% of the population. Approximately 95% of Hispanics are living in poverty.

• Low Educational Attainment: The high school graduation rate for the city is 73.3% and only 17.7% attain a bachelor’s degree or higher. Notably, only 66.12% of Hispanics and 59.20% of Native Americans graduate high school. Educational attainment has a huge impact on income. While 39.68% of high school dropouts are living in poverty, only 3.27% of college graduates live in poverty.

• High Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate in Harlingen is 8.6%, which is almost 5% higher than the national average. Unemployment can lead to poverty or homelessness and hurts one’s mental and physical health. In addition, those with mental illnesses are more likely to become unemployed.

• High Crime Rates: Harlingen has crime rates higher than both the state and national average. Overall, the crime rate is 49% higher than the average in Texas and 62% higher than the national average. While Harlingen has lower-than-average violent crime rates, the city has extremely high rates of property crimes.

• Suicide: The suicide rate in Texas, like the rest of the United States, has been rising at alarming rates. While the suicide rate in Texas is 14.18%, the rate in Cameron County is lower than most other counties in Texas at 6.9%. Even though the area experiences lower-than-average rates, suicide is still a problem that needs to be addressed in the community.
• Substance Abuse: About 93% of adult Texans struggled with a substance abuse disorder in the past year. Since Texas shares a border with Mexico, drug trafficking is a major issue in the state. Excessive drinking and overdose deaths due to heroin, methamphetamines, cocaine, and prescription drugs, specifically opioids, are an issue throughout Texas.

Issues like poverty and unemployment can negatively affect one’s mental health. In addition, unresolved mental health issues can result in consequences like dropping out of high school, suicide, and substance abuse. There are people in Harlingen who are struggling with mental health concerns and need treatment.

The Challenge of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Harlingen, Texas

For people in Harlingen to find relief for their mental health concerns, they need to receive help from a mental health professional. Unfortunately, many do not seek out or receive the treatment they need. According to Mental Health America, 56.4% of adults who need help for a mental illness do not receive it. In Texas, the percentage is even higher at 62.2%.

There are several reasons people don’t access treatment including a stigma surrounding mental health, trouble paying for care, and difficulty finding a professional in their area. 29.19% of adults with a disability claimed they could not see a doctor due to costs. Insurance also plays a big factor when it comes to the affordability of mental health care. In Harlingen, 24.9% of the population does not have health insurance. Additionally, with only one mental health provider for every 1010 people, those with mental illnesses in Texas struggle to find a provider.