McKinney, Texas Therapists

Mental Health Resources in McKinney, Texas

People living with mental health issues in McKinney, Texas, face many challenges. Statewide estimates put the number of Texans with mental illness at 1 in 5. Almost 4% of the state’s 26.9 million people have a severe mental illness that affects them every day. This includes conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or depression. More than 20% of children between the ages of 9 and 17 suffer from a diagnosed mental illness.

Mental health resources throughout the state vary wildly. Texas ranks 32nd out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia for its mental health services. This makes it a place desperately needing better mental health care access.

Of the adults in Texas suffering from mental illness, only 38.3% seek treatment. This means that the large majority is not receiving any mental health care at all in any form. In McKinney, one cause may be that until 2017, most treatment was outsourced to Dallas.

In July 2017, Collin County received a new mental health facility, Life’s Path Mobile Crisis Unit. Life’s Path has a total of 22 beds. Eight of these are in a locked unit designed for patients undergoing severe mental health crises. They are made to hold patients for up to two days. The unlocked unit is for stays up to eight days. The facility is fully staffed and under observation. It aims to help patients reorient themselves during times of distress, so they can return to normal life.

There are only 90 mental health professionals per every 100,000 people in Collin County. This can create a challenge for those looking for mental health care. Officials are becoming more aware of the mental health crisis. They are seeking ways to draw more attention to mental health issues. Many programs also look to give residents easier access to professional counseling services.

Effect of Education, Divorce, Poverty, and Other Contributing Factors

The poverty rate in Collin County is much higher than the national average at 6.95%. Studies show that as poverty levels rise, mental health issues increase. People in poverty are also much less likely to seek treatment.

9% of the population of Collin County is divorced. Divorce is one of the most difficult stressors that can occur in someone’s life. It often contributes to anxiety, depression, and other mental health difficulties.

50% of Collin County residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Education tends to make individuals more likely to seek professional mental health care.

The opioid overdose rate in Texas in 2016 was 4.9 per 100,000 people. This is much lower than many other states in the nation but not an insignificant factor in public health. The total drug overdose rate was 10.1 per 100,000 people. The self-harm and interpersonal violence mortality rate is 6.4 for females and 19.7 for males.

Mental Health Resources in McKinney

Collin County has an active movement toward educating the public about the need for mental health resources in McKinney. The Collin County Mental Health Managed Counsel Program advocates for better care for prison inmates in the county. The program also seeks to educate public officials who work with these individuals. Recent studies show that roughly 4,000 Collin County inmates need mental illness treatment.

The program also hosts the Collin County Mental Health Symposium every November. Now in its fourth year, the symposium discusses ways to approach mental health treatment on a local level. It also investigates how to make services more accessible to patients. It aims to educate medical personnel, police and detention officers, and legal representatives. The symposium aims to improve McKinney’s mental health services, so people never go without the treatment they need.