Springfield, Ohio Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Springfield, Ohio

Local events, national tours and a strong sense of community are some of the great reasons to call Springfield, Ohio home. There are, of course, mental health struggles in Springfield, as in the rest of the country. If you believe that you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health issue, learn how to recognize the signs and access local counseling and services today.

What Causes Mental Illness?

There are a range of mental health issues that can affect an individual with a broad range of symptoms and severity. Serious mental illness includes any issue that limits a person from being involved in major activity in a meaningful way. Many mental illnesses are more mild, but no less emotional or difficult to process on your own.

If you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, here are some of the common signs of mental illness:

• Feeling detached from reality
• Mood changes that are extreme and/or abrupt
• Feeling sad
• Changes in eating habits, sex drive, alcohol use or energy levels
• Withdrawal from loved ones
• Suicidal thoughts

Mental illness may be hard to initially identify. Many symptoms center around pulling away from loved ones and hiding feelings, so you may not always notice a family member suffering with mental illness right away. Look carefully for these signs and check in with loved ones who may be showing some of these symptoms.

While any of these could be caused by other events, each one is a sign that a person may be experiencing emotional distress or a mental illness. These changes in mood or activity could lead to a mental health issue, or could be signs that an individual is already experiencing a mental illness, so don’t wait to talk to a loved one or seek assistance from a mental health professional.

Mental Health Data in Springfield, Ohio

In the United States alone, 44.7 million adults, or 18.3 percent, reported having a mental illness in 2016. Serious mental illness rates were reported at 4.2 percent in 2014 throughout the nation and 4.9 percent in Ohio. Ohio also experienced slightly elevated rates of substance abuse and thoughts of suicide.

The mortality rate for individuals in Clark County, Ohio who have substance use and mental disorders is far higher than the national average. 14.7 women and 34.3 men out of 100,000 died from either of these causes. The excessive drinking rate in Clark County is 15.7 percent of all adults, which is lower than surrounding counties. These factors all contribute to a growing issue of mental health that can severely impact a person’s life.

Challenges in Springfield

Springfield, Ohio is home to many challenges that can not only increase the risk of individuals experiencing a mental health issue, but can also increase the severity of the symptoms for those who already live with mental illness.

With a population of 59,761, Springfield has a poverty rate of 27.9 percent. This is higher than the national average and lowers the median household income of the city to $32,165, which is also lower than average. Living below the poverty line has a very real impact on mental health. It can either increase the risk of experiencing mental illness, increase the symptoms associated with mental illness or be caused by mental illness in a cyclical way.

Opioid use is particularly high in the state. In 2016, 32.9 Ohians per 100,000 experienced an opioid-related death. Drug and alcohol use are common signs of mental illness, particularly depression. If you see signs of alcohol or drug abuse in your area, don’t hesitate to find a therapist or mental health worker who can help.

Typical health issues can also have an affect on your emotional health. If you have diabetes, you may be at greater risk of developing a mental health issue. Approximately 12.9 percent of residents in Clark County have been diagnosed with diabetes.