Therapists in Palm Bay, TX and Nearby Locations

Overview of Mental Health Resources in Palm Bay, Florida

For many, Palm Bay, Florida offers the ideal version of coastal living. 2017 statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau estimate an impressive 111,000 people call Palm Bay home. More notable is how quickly the city’s population is growing. Every decade or so, the number of Palm Bay residents increases by a little more than eight percent – significantly greater than most other places to live in the area. With temperate weather to enjoy almost every day and plenty of amenities to utilize, it is no wonder why so many people are choosing to go there to live.

Typically, a family’s decision to move houses rests on a financial motive. The most common motivating factors are job opportunities, such as a raise in pay or a new job altogether. Palm Bay is identical to most other American cities in that regard as well. However, despite a willingness to participate in the workforce, not everyone in the city can land a job; especially one with decent pay. Those who can find work are not always able to maintain their positions. Layoffs and other job-compromising events occur more regularly than what’s good for comfort.

However, the economic woes of the city are ancillary to another complex problem affecting tens of thousands of people. Experts are saying Palm Bay is going through a “mental health crisis,” in addition to much of the rest of the nation. Let’s go over what that means, why Palm Bay’s situation is so detrimental, and what you can do to get in contact with a licensed therapist who can help if you are in need.

Much like every other developed nation in the world, the overall mental health of the United States is deteriorating. Chances are, you probably know someone struggling with a mental disorder if not yourself. A particularly alarming report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness claims roughly one in five (or 18.5 percent) of American adults experience mental illness at some point during their life. Unfortunately, narrowing the scope of the statistics fails to yield more hopeful results. A 2017 study commissioned by Mental Health America ranks the state of Florida amongst the top 53% of states regarding the prevalence of mental illness and the lack of access to care. In this context and for future reference, the term mental illness refers to any diagnosable behavioral/psychiatric disorder. So, what’s causing the situation in Palm Bay to be so dire, specifically?

First of all, the economy of Palm Bay is not in stellar condition. On the contrary, vast swaths of people in the area are finding it difficult to make ends meet. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the average income per capita in the city of Palm Bay is a whopping 30% less than the national average. Moreover, a Palm Bay resident is 20% more likely to suffer from chronic unemployment and poverty, as per Area Vibes. Unfortunately, the relationship between income and mental health is not insignificant. It is no secret that people who do better financially are not as likely to be living with a mental condition. Research indicates poverty not only breeds mental illness but worsens the experience of living with it because of a lack of resources. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recently published a study that estimates adults living below the federal poverty level are more than two times as likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder.

Palm Bay also has a violent crime problem. According to the most recent statistics sourced from the FBI, crimes that involve violence disproportionately occur in Palm Bay. It is no secret that crime and mental illness have a strong link to one another. Areas that enjoy lower rates of violent crime also tend to see less mental illness, and vice versa. Regrettably, Palm Bay is not an exception in that regard. While the city is aware of the need to deal with crime, results are not going to come to fruition overnight. In the meantime, crime is most certainly negatively influencing the community’s mental health.

The Trouble of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Palm Bay, Florida

A harsh reality people across the country are facing is the often-troublesome nature of reaching out for therapeutic help. To the surprise of some, lots of people in the country do not get any treatment for their mental conditions, regardless of the necessity to do so. The National Institute of Mental Health claims a majority (57%) of mentally ill Americans get no form of mental health care during a given year. Experts are partly blaming the nationwide shortage of mental health professionals.

In the case of Palm Bay, people are pointing fingers at ineffective legislation, poverty, and stigma surrounding mental illness as being major barriers to entry. As per the U.S. Census Bureau, a resident of Palm Bay is more than twice as likely to be living without any health insurance than a typical American citizen. Undoubtedly, a good portion of these people are also low-income earners. For them, the out-of-pocket expense of counseling is too great to bear.

Mental Health Resources in Palm Bay, Florida

Thanks to much-needed attention from both local and state officials, organizations that focus on mental health are opening their doors all across the state. Fortunately, residents of Palm Bay have a good selection of places to choose from when looking for mental health assistance. The Coastal Mental Health Center is a local mental health clinic providing a bevy of services for those in need.