Shreveport, Louisiana Therapists

Mental Health Resources in Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is right on the border of Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas and is home to several large universities. It is known as the education center for these three states. Like many other college towns, it has its share of economic issues and hardships.

The median income for Shreveport is very low, just over $30,000. This is about $10,000 less than the national average. Unemployment and underemployment are so high that the per-capita income is less than $25,000. This means that a great proportion of people in Shreveport suffer from poverty.

Poverty happens to be one of the greatest causes of mental health issues (aside from chemical and genetic causes.) Almost 25% of people in Shreveport are living in poverty.

Mental Health Statistics for Shreveport

Shreveport has one of the highest suicide rates in the country and this rate is increasing. In the last twenty years, the suicide rate has increased in Shreveport by almost 30%. Researchers have found that this increase is directly related to economic issues. As people have less money, they have less access to mental health resources.

State-wide, people in Louisiana do not receive the treatment they need for their mental health issues. Almost 60% of children in Louisiana never receive the treatment they need. Louisiana is rated last in the United States when it comes to mental health resources, specifically for children.

Impact of Not Receiving Treatment in Shreveport, Louisiana

One issue in Shreveport when it comes to mental health issues is its cyclical nature. The number of people with serious mental health issues continues to increase in Louisiana. Sadly, the financial resources for residents of Shreveport continue to decrease. This causes a vicious cycle. People don’t have money to seek treatment for mental health issues. This causes their disease to worsen. Mental health disease causes further unemployment. The cycle never ends.

Economic depression is the main reason for the lack of mental health treatment in Shreveport. Lack of mental health treatment can lead to:

• Untreated adults and children with serious mental health disorders
• High rates of suicide
• Children aren’t receiving the care they need
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Vicious cycle

The horizon is bleak for Shreveport. The numbers continue to get worse. This is why it’s so important for people to have easy access to information and mental health resources.

What Makes Shreveport Unique When It Comes to Mental Health?

Although Shreveport is home to many colleges, this doesn’t bring a lot of income to the residents of the city. Given how poor the town is, especially on the outskirts, it is not surprising that the area suffers from mental health disorders.

• Culture: It is a college town with a lot of students refusing or not realizing they have access to mental health treatment
• Education: The rate for high school graduation is higher in Shreveport than in the rest of the United States. However, the numbers skew in the opposite direction when it comes to college. Very few people in Shreveport hold an Associate’s degree or higher.
• Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate in Shreveport is rather high, at 5%
• Socioeconomic Factors: Given the lower per-capita income as compared to the rest of the country, it is not surprising that there are many people with mental health issues who go untreated.

Divorce Rate in Shreveport

Louisiana, in general, has one of the highest divorce rates in the country. Most states boast a divorce rate lower than 10%. In Louisiana, this rate is over 20%. Studies do quote the unemployment level and economic depression in Louisiana as the main reason for this high divorce rate.

Not many people who come to Louisiana come to get married. A lot of people who migrate to the state are young single, and looking for a different way of life. This does not help the divorce or marriage rate at all.

Knowing that divorce levels are so high in Louisiana, people must have access to mental health resources. If people can learn how to communicate better rather than fight over money, the divorce rate may decrease. Couples counseling is one of the best ways to achieve this.

Mental Health Resources in Shreveport

With such a high percentage of people living in poverty, there simply aren’t the resources for people to seek the mental health treatment they need. This is compounded by the high unemployment rate. Without jobs, people simply don’t have health insurance that covers mental health treatment.

The ratio of mental health practitioners for the population of Shreveport is not that bad. There are 317 mental health professionals for every 100,000 people in Shreveport. The problem isn’t a lack of resources, per se. It is a matter of people knowing how to get treatment and affording treatment that is an issue.