Therapists in Pembroke Pines, FL and Nearby Locations

Overview On Mental Health Resources in Pembroke Pines, Florida

Pembroke Pines is a large city in the Miami Metropolitan area. The estimated 2016 population was 168,587 while the estimated median income was $62,812. The city, incorporated nearly 60 years ago, is slightly richer and more populous than the typical American city.

Because it’s so close to Miami, Pembroke Pines mental health problems are wrapped up in Miami’s. And experts believe that the situation is dire. There aren’t enough providers in the area to treat all of the patients who need mental health care.

The city is extremely diverse. 30% of residents were born outside of the U.S. The Latin American population is particularly strong. 32% of adult residents over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree, a number that’s slightly lower than the national average.

Pembroke Pine’s Crime Rate

Pembroke Pines has a lower crime rate than most Florida cities, despite its proximity to Miami. Residents have a 1-in-483 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. Florida residents, in general, have 1-in-232 chance.

Residents are also less likely to be involved in property crimes.

The low crime rate could be a sign that residents have good mental health. Crime and mental health intricately related.

Pembroke Pines Mental Health

Florida’s mental health resources are stretched too thin.

“About 70 percent of the people who need mental-health treatment in this state can’t get it,” Donna Wyche, the former manager of mental-health and homeless issues for Orange County, said. “Either the resources aren’t available or, sometimes, people can’t figure out how to navigate the system to find the resources. We have to do a better job.”

Compared to other states, Florida spends very little on mental health. The state was once ranked 49th out of the country for its mental health programs. The same study found that Florida spends nearly $1 billion on its prison system but only $718 million on mental health.

“So if somebody has a mental health problem in Florida it’s likely that they’re going to struggle finding a provider, getting the kind of mental health support they need to recover,” Theresa Nguyen, vice president of policy and programs for Mental Health America, said.

Despite the limited access to mental health care providers, Pembroke Pines does not have an unusually high rate of mental illness. It’s unclear why this is true.

“More surprising, in terms of a major shift, is that the prevalence rates of mental illness in Florida are low,” Nguyen said. “Florida is 10th in the nation, meaning they have some of the lowest rates of mental illness. People aren’t feeling as sick. There are some thoughts that has something to do with weather, socioeconomic status — factors like that.”

Many people move to Florida when they’re ready to retire or after they’ve made a lot of money. That could potentially provide a buffer against mental illness.

According to one estimate, 9% of residents in the Greater Miami area suffer from a serious mental illness.

With treatment, people with mental disorders can live satisfying, effective lives. Without treatment, those same people could easily end up in jail or living in the streets. There’s a clear societal benefit to taking care of mentally ill people.

Florida’s largest psychiatric facility is a county jail housing 3,000 mentally ill inmates in Miami-Dade County.

Pembroke Pines Mental Health Resources

Florida officials are aware of the condition of the state’s mental health resources. Efforts are being made to improve the situation. There is a lot, however, that needs to be done.

Judges are working to interrupt the criminal pipeline. Instead of sending mentally ill people to jail, they’re figuring out other options. One program gives mentally ill inmates a choice. Work with the program and receive housing, treatment, and a break from their case. Or, reject the group’s help and try to fight the charges on their own.

Such programs give people a chance to fight for their lives. A mentally ill person who receives treatment and guidance is in a much better spot than one who’s an inmate in jail.

More needs to be done, however. Florida needs more therapists. The state’s current population is aging and will soon leave the workforce.