Lewisville, Texas Therapists

Mental Health in Lewisville, Texas

Lewisville, Texas, has lower rates of mental illness than many other regions. But that does not mean there are no special needs and challenges for local care providers. Lewisville has not been immune to the factors of the opioid crisis and poverty rates. What is more, the area has also seen a shortage of available care and funding. This makes it harder for residents to access qualified help.

Rates of mental health in Texas are generally on par with the national average. Rates of substance use are either slightly rising or holding steady. These tend to be lower throughout the state than throughout the rest of the country. The challenge for the Lewisville area, therefore, is a lack of funding and access to care.

Rates of major depressive disorders are rising among the teenage population. In 2014, 11.2% of teenagers reported having a major depressive disorder in the last year. This is on par with the national average of 11% in the same period, but it’s up from 7.9% in 2011. It is also significant that of these teens, only 35.3% were seeking counseling.

Among adults, rates of serious mental illness were lower than the national average. In 2014, 3.8% of adults reported a serious mental illness, which is a little lower than the national rate. But care for this demographic was also low. Only 38.3% of people reported receiving treatment.

Effects of Poverty, Substance Abuse, and Other Factors

Substance abuse throughout the state of Texas is more or less on par with the national average. The exception is the rate of tobacco use. Texas ranks 14 out of 50 states for tobacco use, with high rates both among adults and teenagers. As of 2011, 19.2% of adults reported smoking in the previous 30 days. Meanwhile, 17.4% of teenagers reported smoking in the same period.

Other rates of substance use, including drug and alcohol use, are average. In 2014, 8.4% of teenagers reported using illegal drugs in the previous 30 days. These rates do not seem to be rising throughout the 2010s and are lower than the national average of 9.1%. Rates of teenage binge drinking, meanwhile, are dropping. Use among adults was roughly equal to the national average, at 6.5 and 2.2% for alcohol and drugs, respectively. However, of particular concern was the rate of people seeking treatment. This was very low, at only 6.4 and 8.6%, respectively.

Substance use is an important factor in providing a picture of the mental health of a region. Those with mental illness often use substances to self-medicate. Meanwhile, those with substance addictions often develop mental illnesses. This is why areas with high rates of substance abuse need significant mental health care.

The poverty rate in the Lewisville area is a little over 16%. Meanwhile, 32% of the population possessed a bachelor’s degree or higher. Poverty and lack of education both make people less likely to seek mental health care. This is why these statistics are also significant.

Mental Health Care Resources in Lewisville

Mental health care resources in Lewisville are strained because of a lack of funding. The ratio of care providers to population is only one to 1,000. Meanwhile, Texas spends less on mental health care per capita than almost any other state. However, recent state grants have taken steps toward improving services. In the past, the region relied on law enforcement to provide mental health care. This often meant that people did not receive care unless they were in crisis. Thankfully, that is changing. Three new programs have been added in Denton County in recent years. These include a full-time crisis triage program providing emergency and rehabilitation services. Lawmakers are also introducing new state laws to expand mental health care access.