Pocatello, Idaho Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Pocatello, Idaho

For those who love views of mountains wherever they go, Pocatello, Idaho is a beautiful city that has much to offer its residents. From plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful outdoors surrounding the city to amazing schools in the area, Pocatello is doing well in many aspects. Notably, the city is home to Idaho State University where about 12,000 students attend annually.

Pocatello has an estimated population of over 57,000 people and is located in Bannock County. The graduation rate in the city is high with 92.7% of adults over the age of 25 having a high school degree and 30.4% having earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher. In addition, the cost of living in the city is very low with an index of 89.2. One major reason for this is affordable housing in the city with a median home value of $138,000.

Pocatello has a lower than average unemployment rate with only 3.8% of people being unemployed. Despite high levels of employment and a low cost of living, the median household income in the city is lower than the national average at $42,979. The per capita income is also low at $23,163. As a result, 20.2% of the population is living below the poverty line.

Although Pocatello is experiencing positive growth and success in many aspects, there are still people within the community who suffer from poor mental health. For these individuals to receive the treatment they need, it is important to look closely at the mental health situation in the city and to help people find resources to treat their mental illnesses.

Mental Health Concerns in Pocatello Idaho

Idaho has an especially high prevalence of mental health when compared to other states in the United States. The state ranks 48^th for the adult prevalence rate of mental illness with 21.62% of the population having a mental illness of some sort. Idaho also ranks 51st in the country for having the highest percentage of youths who have experienced one or more major depressive episodes in the last year. When looking at the mental health situation in Pocatello, Idaho, there are several concerns specific to the area.

College Students’ Mental Health

Since a major university is located in the city, it is important to understand how attending college can affect one’s mental health. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, 31% of college students report debilitating depression, and 50% report overwhelming anxiety. Unfortunately, mental health has a huge toll on the academic success of students. 64% of students who stop attending college report that it was due to a mental health-related reason. In addition, suicide is a major concern for college campuses since suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students nationally.

Veteran Mental Health

Pocatello is home to 3,078 veterans who have unique mental health needs that need to be addressed. Issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, the effects of a traumatic brain injury, and depression are the primary concerns veterans are faced with. When left untreated, many unfortunate consequences often occur. For one, 25% of veterans who returned from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from a substance abuse disorder. Also, homelessness is a huge concern for the veteran population. Approximately 11% of homeless in the United States are veterans. Worst of all, 22% of suicides in the United States are by veterans.

Minority Mental Health

Although 84.9% of Pocatello’s residents are white alone, minorities in the city experience the most financial strain. The poverty rate for white residents rests at 18.86% while the poverty rate is at 28.34% for Hispanics, 31.44% for African Americans, and 33.97% for Asians. A strong correlation exists between poverty and mental illness which suggests mental health issues are more prevalent among these minority groups. Unfortunately, there is a mental health disparity for minority groups which makes it more difficult for them to access the treatment they need.