An Overview of Mental Health in Taylor, Michigan
Taylor, Michigan, is an urban area located approximately 18 miles southwest of Detroit in Wayne County. This bedroom community had a population of 61,276 people as of 2016. The majority of the residents classified themselves as White alone (75.6 percent). The next largest group was Black alone (17.5 percent) and Hispanic (5.9 percent). Most households in Taylor (68.5 percent) classified themselves as families. Taylor is often referred to by its nickname “Taylortucky” because so many residents have roots in the deep south. Today most residents of Taylor were born in Michigan, and the foreign-born population is small.
Taylor has much to offer the people who live there, including the nationally recognized Heritage Park. History meets recreation here where old farmhouses and homes dating back to the 1800s sit side by side with modern sports fields, swimming pools, and a lake for catch-and-release fishing. The Taylor Sportsplex offers a skating rink for hockey and figure-skating and a physical fitness program for homeschooled students. Mild summers allow for plenty of time outdoors; temperatures rarely climb out of the 80s even at the height of summer.
As of 2016, the estimated median household income in Taylor, Michigan, was $43,313, somewhat lower than the same figure for the state as a whole ($52,492). The cost of living index in Taylor is lower than the average for the United States at 88.5 compared to 100. The crime index is slightly higher than for the United States, with 299.4 incidents per 100,000 in the population as compared to 279.3 for the country. The vast majority of the offenses were thefts of property.
Many residents of Taylor face socioeconomic challenges daily. Associated with the lower household income, 19.8 percent of the population lived in poverty as of 2017, and an estimated 8.9 percent of the population of Taylor under the age of 65 has no health insurance. This is despite a low unemployment rate of 4.5 percent as of May 2018.
Even for those who do have health insurance coverage, copays and deductibles are difficult if not impossible to pay, and benefits for mental health services are often limited. All of these factors create an environment where mental health services are difficult to obtain. Many people in need are unable to get help until they reach a point of mental health crisis and make their way to the emergency room, overburdening an already overloaded system.
Community Health Needs Assessment of Taylor, Michigan
In 2016, Beaumont Health, the largest health care system in the state, published a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to comply with the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The city of Taylor was included in the CHNA. Public health indicators were compared to state and federal benchmarks. Taylor and the surrounding area were lacking in several areas when compared to those goals.
- Access to healthcare: This category included factors such as lack of health insurance, an inability to pay out of pocket for care, and a high ratio of providers to patients.
- Substance abuse: Death due to drug overdose and excessive drinking, classified as mental health conditions, all failed to stay below benchmark numbers.
- Mental health: The number of residents reporting poor mental health days, rates of depression, the suicide rate, and the number of respondents reporting a lack of social and emotional supports were all higher than expected for a population of this size.
In response to these challenges, Beaumont Health implemented some targeted interventions.
- Almost 2,000 residents attended 10 educational presentations on the topic of mental health and how to access needed services.
- A program called Developing Meaningful Connections was implemented to serve those with dementia and their caregivers. The project expanded to include anyone experiencing mental health stressors.
- Beaumont Health sponsored events targeted to suicide prevention. The No Bullying Live Empowered (NoBLE) recognizes the long-term health consequences of bullying and works to prevent it.
Where to Find Help When You Need It in Taylor, Michigan
If you’re looking for mental health services for yourself or someone you love, E-Counseling.com offers an anonymous online directory to help you find the assistance you need. You can browse anonymously through a list of professionals that includes pictures, qualifications, specialties, and a statement written by the counselor or therapist to give you an idea of how they approach the therapeutic relationship.
