Miami Beach, Florida Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Miami Beach, Florida

Miami Beach is a resort city on the southern coast of Florida. This municipality is located in Miami-Dade County and has an estimated population of 92,307 as of 2017. It’s positioned between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean via various man-made and natural barrier islands. The South Beach neighborhood is one of the most popular parts of the city, as part of South Florida’s bustling commercial center.

This beautiful beach resort city is known for its rich history, arts, tourism, and prominence in popular culture. But while Miami Beach has a variety of benefits for its residents, there are serious mental health concerns in the city and surrounding area. Poverty and divorce are the most notable contributors to the prevalence of mental illness in the area. Take a closer look at how Miami Beach residents struggle with mental health disorders and how you can get in contact with a counselor.

Some of the statistics about mental health in the Miami Beach area are troubling. For example, 241 residents of Miami-Dade County died by suicide in 2016. The only other county with more deaths by suicide is Broward at 243. Another disturbing fact is that the number of suicides is higher than homicides in the Miami-Dade area and almost all of Florida.

An estimated 9 percent of people in the Miami area suffer from a mental illness, which is three times the national average. If you look at all of Florida, 181,000 children and 660,000 adults live with severe mental health conditions. This includes major depression, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

One major contributing factor to mental health complications is money issues. The poverty rate in Miami Beach is at 16.7 percent. This is notably higher than the national rate, estimated to be 12.3 percent. In all of Miami-Dade County, 21.3 percent of households (179,200) suffered in poverty in 2013. A disturbing 21 percent of all Miami-Dade residents lived in poverty in 2013.

Another cause and risk factor of mental illness is divorce. According to studies and mental health professionals, divorce can result in anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Many Florida cities, including Miami Beach, dominate a list of cities with the highest divorce rates. In Miami Beach, 16.3 percent of the population is divorced.

The Trouble of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Miami Beach, Florida

Sadly, many residents of Miami Beach may face difficulties when trying to get help for mental health conditions. One barrier to receiving mental health treatment is access to health insurance. A shocking 26.7 percent of Miami Beach residents do not have health insurance. In 2013, 58 percent of people in all of Miami-Dade County aged 18-to-64 lacked health insurance. These are huge numbers in comparison to the national rate of uninsured individuals of 8.8 percent.

According to the Florida Health Behavioral Association, 61.7 percent of adults with mental illness in Florida didn’t receive treatment, compared to the national average of 55.8 percent. Florida ranks 44th out of all states in the ratio of people to mental health professionals. Florida’s ratio is 750:1 and the national average is 547:1. The Sunshine State also comes in last in mental health support per capita.

Mental Health Resources in Miami Beach, Florida

Despite the challenges facing Miami Beach, there is some good news to celebrate. One uplifting fact is that Miami Beach has 135 mental health professionals per 100,000 people. Plus, there have been positive strides in treating mental illness in the area in recent years. For example, there is a successful diversion program in Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade Jail Diversion Program is designed to help get mentally ill people who are arrested into hospitals as quickly as possible, rather than just keeping them in jail. As part of this program, a 180,000-square-foot treatment center is being constructed to provide trauma services, crisis stabilization, job training, and primary health care services for people suffering from severe mental impairments.