Therapists in Kenner, LA and Nearby Locations

An Overview of Mental Health in Kenner, Louisiana

With a population of over 64,000 people, Kenner, Louisiana is the sixth-largest city in the state. With the Mississippi River bordering the city on the south and Lake Pontchartrain bordering the city to the North, the residents of Kenner can enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities. Rivertown, or the part of the city located alongside the Mississippi, includes plenty of shopping, the Kenner Planetarium, the Rivertown Theater for the Performing Arts, and several other attractions. Residents also enjoy spending warm days at Laketown, a large recreational area surrounding Lake Pontchartrain.

Unfortunately, the people of Kenner have experienced much hardship in the past and continue to struggle in many ways. Issues like natural disasters, poverty, substance abuse, and homelessness indicate that mental health is likely a concern for many residents living in Kenner.

Mental Health Concerns in Kenner

Several mental health issues are unique to the community of Kenner, Louisiana.

Natural Disasters

In 2009, the community was hit by Hurricane Katrina which damaged approximately 2,800 homes in the city. The city has mostly recovered since the event as people came together to rebuild all that had been damaged, but the emotional and financial effects of the hurricane were devastating. Although Katrina was one of the most severe natural disasters the area has ever seen, Jefferson Parish of which Kenner is a part has experienced 27 natural disasters, which is much higher than the national average of 13.

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, mental health conditions like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression can affect individuals who are dealing with the grief of losing their home or loved ones and trying to cope with the stress they experienced during the event. Since many people in Kenner, Louisiana have lived through major natural disasters, it can be very beneficial for individuals who are struggling to speak with a therapist.

Poverty

Compared to the rest of the nation, Kenner has a higher-than-average poverty rate of 15.62%. When looking at this statistic in further detail, you’ll find that minorities struggle significantly more financially than most white residents living in the city. While only 6.5% of white individuals in Kenner are living below the poverty line, 31.81% of African Americans and 17.88% of Hispanics are in poverty. Poverty has an extremely negative effect on one’s mental health for people of all ages and can lead to depression and anxiety.

Suicide and Overdose Deaths

A very serious and unfortunate result of untreated mental health disorders is death due to suicide or overdose. One term used to refer to both of these types of deaths simultaneously is “deaths of despair.” In Jefferson Parish, there are an estimated 61.6 deaths of despair for every 100,000 individuals. This number is significantly higher than the national average of 47.5 deaths per 100,000 people and the state average of 49.6 deaths per 100,000 people. In 2017, there were 177 drug overdose deaths and 65 suicides in the county.

The Trouble of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Kenner

Although receiving treatment for one’s mental health issues is an important step in the recovery process, only 41% of adults with a mental illness in the United States received any sort of care. Several factors contribute to this startling statistic:

• Stigma: Fear of how others will perceive or treat them once their mental health concern is out in the open is one reason people choose not to receive treatment. Only 25% of adults with mental health symptoms claim that they believe people are sympathetic and caring towards people with mental illnesses.
• Lack of Available Providers: In Louisiana, there are 420 individuals for every mental health provider. As the number of individuals needing treatment increases, the number of available providers is continuing to decline making it difficult for people to access the care they need.
• Financial Struggle: 8% of people under the age of 65 in Kenner, Louisiana do not have health insurance which can make it difficult to afford treatment.