Therapists in Rochester, MN and Nearby Locations

An Overview of Mental Health Resources in Rochester, Minnesota

For many, the lively city of Rochester, Minnesota is the pinnacle of northern American living. Amenities, such as grocery stores and gas stations are abundantly dispersed across the very walkable neighborhoods of the city. Rochester is home to approximately 155,000 residents, as of 2017 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Relative to other nearby cities, Rochester remains quite popular. Even more notably, the population of the city is increasing by an impressive ten percent every decade or so. Located in Olmsted County, real estate is more affordable than the national average of $184,700, coming in at $167,800. Also, if you are the kind of person who favors walking or biking over driving to a destination, you will be pleased to know Rochester is known for its plentiful number of bike lanes, easy-to-access stores, and efficient public transportation system.

However, despite all of the appealing characteristics of the area, Rochester is not free of all trouble. Currently, the city’s economy is not in the most stellar of situations. Plenty of people in the area are struggling financially, living paycheck to paycheck. Lots of people are out of work as they are unable to find decent-paying employment. Those that do manage to land a job are not always able to maintain it with events like layoffs happening regularly. But, the city of Rochester’s economic problems are` ancillary to another intricate issue. Experts are saying Rochester is going through a “mental health crisis.” Let’s break down, in detail, what that means, how Rochester’s mental health became so poor, and what you can do to reach out to a therapist in your area who can help if you are in need.

Unfortunately, mental health is continuously deteriorating in the United States. An especially alarming recent report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates almost 20 percent of American adults experience mental illness at some point during any given year. Narrowing the scope of the statistics fails to yield more hopeful results. As per a 2017 study commissioned by Mental Health America, the state of Minnesota could be doing a lot better about preventing the widespread nature of mental illness. In this context and for future reference, the term mental illness refers to any diagnosable psychiatric/behavioral condition ranging in severity. For example, clinical depression or schizophrenia. So, why are so many people dealing with mental illness in Rochester, specifically?

First of all, the economy of Rochester, Minnesota needs improvement. While its performance is superior to some other cities in similar situations, many families are financially struggling. Economic problems are all too present in Rochester. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates almost one in ten residents live in abject poverty. Unfortunately, the relationship between mental health and income is not insignificant. Research tells us that poverty not only worsens and amplifies the experience of mental illness, but also increases its prevalence. A concerning study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration claims that American adults living below the federal poverty level are more than two times as likely to suffer from a diagnosable mental health condition.

Rochester also suffers from a seemingly significant crime problem. Certain crimes, such as rape, occur far more frequently in Rochester relative to the rest of the nation, as per statistics sourced from the FBI. Moreover, the crime rate in the area is not decreasing at an ideal speed; only two percent over the years. The statistical link between mental illness and crime is no secret. Areas that enjoy lower rates of crime also see less mental illness. Rochester is aware of the need to improve the city’s crime problem, but the results are not going to come to fruition overnight.

The Trouble of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Rochester, Minnesota

A harsh reality is lots of Americans are having trouble reaching out to a therapist for help. According to a recent report from the National Institute of Mental Health, a clear majority (57 percent) of Americans who have a mental illness will receive no treatment for it during any given year. Experts are partly blaming the current nationwide shortage of mental health professionals ready to treat patients.

In the case of Rochester, specifically, people are identifying ineffective legislation, poverty, and stigma surrounding mental illness as being barriers to access to care. While the rate of persons without health insurance is much better than the national average, a good chunk of the population of Rochester lives without health insurance and are low-income earners. For them, the out-of-pocket expense of counseling is not economically feasible.

Mental Health Resources in Rochester, Minnesota

Thanks to attention from both state and federal entities, more organizations that focus on improving the community’s mental health are popping up across the state. Fortunately, residents of Rochester have a good number of these places to choose from when seeking assistance with mental health. The Zumbro Valley Health Center, for example, is a local clinic servicing those in need with psychiatric conditions. The Mayo Clinic of Psychiatry offers similar services to those in the HTTPS://www.zvhc.orge Rochester area.