Syracuse, New York Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Syracuse New York

Finding an easy to relate to a mental health professional can be a challenging process regardless of where you reside. Syracuse New York has its challenges much like any other city in the nation. Fortunately, there are over 140 trained professionals in Syracuse ready and willing to walk with you through some of your most trying times.

With a city population of just over 143,000 and a metro population of just over a half million, Syracuse is known as the educational and economic hub of central New York state. Syracuse University has a population of just over 22,000 and is known as one of the premier private research universities in the country.

The one thing Syracuse is known for is snow. Lots and lots of snow. In a regional competition, the Snow Globe Award, Syracuse has the most wins. The area receives more than 100 inches of snow each year, possibly attributed to some of its mental health statistics.

Mental Health Statistics for Syracuse

Mental health means living a productive and meaningful life and having a life worth living according to your own goals, hopes, dreams, and interests. Syracuse is like many other places in the nation that suffer from an overabundance of mental health illness issues. Syracuse ranks higher than the rest of the state, including New York City as it applies to the percentage of the population suffering from some form of mental illness.

According to facts released by the City of Syracuse, mental health issues accounted for 9.69% of emergency department visits. 5.5% of total ER visits resulted in hospital stays. Suicide is also on the rise with a rate of 10.2 per 100,000 people in 2016. 15.6% of residents also experience severe mental illness accounting for more than 2 weeks out of the year. 11.3% of the population experience frequent mental distress and 16.7% of the Medicaid population suffers from depression.

What Makes Mental Health Different in Syracuse?

The tides of mental health are changing. Not just in Syracuse but in New York state. In a landmark law change, there is a mandate to teach mental health in public schools. Even though the laws have changed, depression and anxiety are still common for residents. Financial concerns might be the leading culprit.

• The median household income in Syracuse is just $34,000 compared to $63,000 for the state of New York.
• There is an established link between financial distress and mental illness.
• More than a third of Syracuse residents live below the poverty line.
• Causes for suicide in Syracuse are linked to untreated mental illness.
• Studies show lower-income residents may not have access to mental health care. Syracuse has a poverty percentage of 33.6%.

Divorce Rate in Syracuse

More than half the population of Syracuse has never been married. Of the roughly 30% that are, they suffer from a 9.6% divorce rate. While much lower than the national average, the low rate may be the result of the median age being 30 years old. Studies show that getting married later in life can lead to healthier marriages.

More than two dozen marriage counselors serve Syracuse which might be why the divorce rate is significantly lower than the national average of 50%.

Mental Health Resources in Syracuse

There are more than 140 mental health professionals in Syracuse, with roughly 200 hundred serving Onondaga County. New York is noted as having a shortage of licensed professionals available, forcing them well below the minimum nationwide threshold.

Challenges of Finding a Therapist in Syracuse

Though there are hundreds of mental health professionals easily found online, many of them have social reviews attached to their profiles, making them all seem like the ideal choice. Review sites such as Google Pages Pages, Yelp and the like all offer social reviews based on a previous patient’s experience making it hard to decide which one is right for you and your condition.

Medical providers, health insurance companies, and local clinics all offer referrals. Even if you find someone in your network, you’ll still have to fill out paperwork, get approvals, and wait for the next available appointment. All of this is done before you get a chance to meet the person you’ll be working with to see if they are a good match.