Rapid City, South Dakota Therapists

Mental Health Overview in Rapid City, South Dakota

Known as the “Gateway to the Black Hills,” Rapid City, South Dakota is located right next to the famous Black Hills mountain range, which includes some of the biggest tourist sites in the country. The many tourists who stay at Rapid City and the residents who live there can enjoy Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Badlands National Park which are within driving distance of the city. The city itself includes stunning views of the mountains nearby, the historic downtown area, The City of Presidents monument, plenty of shopping and restaurants, and many other recreational activities to enjoy.

It’s not hard to see why tourists enjoy the picturesque, teeming environment of Rapid City. A lucky 74,421 residents can call Rapid City, South Dakota their home and enjoy what the city has to offer all 365 days of the year. However, all cities have individuals within their boundaries who struggle. The most recent census estimates reveal that 10 percent of people living in Rapid City under the age of 65 are living with some sort of disability, and 14.1 percent of individuals within this age group don’t have health insurance. Additionally, 16.3 percent of people in Rapid City are living in poverty.

Unfortunately, there are many people throughout the United States that suffer from mental illnesses that seriously impact their life. People living in Rapid City, South Dakota with mental health concerns must receive treatment for illnesses such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and PTSD. When left untreated, mental disorders can result in serious consequences like substance abuse, dropping out of school, unemployment, homelessness, incarceration, and suicide. This overview of mental health in Rapid City will help you understand how mental health issues affect the residents living in the city and will point you toward resources that can help you.

Mental Health Statistics for South Dakota

In South Dakota, approximately 17.83 percent of adults and 11.79 percent of youths under the age of 18 have a mental illness. Of these individuals, 53.3 percent of adults and 63.4 percent of youths did not receive any treatment.

Suicide is a major concern for all age groups in South Dakota. In 2017, a total of 192 people died due to suicide making it the ninth cause of death in the state. This number shows a 44.5 percent increase from 1999, almost double the percent increase nationally. For youths and young adults living in South Dakota, suicide was the second leading cause of death.

South Dakota does poorly when it comes to the number of citizens who struggle with substance abuse disorders. The state ranks 45^th nationally for adults who report having had a substance use disorder in the last year. A total of 59,000 adults in the state struggled with substance abuse which makes up 9.29 percent of the population. The state also ranked 45^th for youths struggling with a substance use disorder. 5.78 percent of youths living in South Dakota have reported this issue.

Poverty is a strong indicator of mental health issues in both youths and adults, especially depression and anxiety. In Rapid City, there are higher poverty rates amongst minorities. Although 79.7 percent of residents in the city are white, Rapid City is home to a large community of Native Americans which makes up 11.4 percent of the city’s population. While only 10.47 percent of white residents are living in poverty, 55.26 percent of natives are living below the poverty line.

Other statistics shed light on the effects poverty and mental illness has on this community of people. Natives have the lowest high school graduation rate out of any other race living in Rapid City at 76.45 percent. Suicide accounts for 6.1 percent of Native American Deaths compared to 2 percent for whites. Natives also have the lowest marriage rate at 20 percent. This is almost the same as the divorce and separation rate combined which is at 21%.