Vallejo, California Therapists

Overview of Mental Health Resources in Vallejo, California

Vallejo is in the San Francisco area of California. It is an area that offers the best of both worlds. There is culture, found in the museums and theme parks. But it also has areas of undisturbed terrain for hikers and trail seekers. The city was the capital of California twice in its history. Today, it’s considered the most culturally diverse city in the county.

Even before other cities recognized the gay community, Vallejo was known for being all-embracing. It has a hefty LGBTQIA community. This is not surprising given that it is so close to San Francisco.

The median household income is only $59,000. The biggest employers are medical centers, schools, and Six Flags. The city is very small, with only about 30 square miles of livable space. The other 20 square miles are made up of water. The poverty level is low, at just 17%, despite the low household income level.

Mental Health Statistics for Vallejo

Vallejo is a small city. The population is only 119,000 people. The county estimates that about 5-8% of its residents suffer from depression and other serious mental health issues. The problem is these numbers only account for people who respond to surveys or receive mental health treatment.

Vallejo, and Solano County in general, have a plethora of mental health resources. There are close to 400 mental health practitioners in the city. The county prides itself on having the resources its citizens need for mental health care. However, again, these assumptions are based on people who seek out treatment. There are plenty of people who don’t seek out help.

Impact of Not Receiving Treatment in Vallejo, California

Vallejo does have several large medical centers that offer their residents mental health treatment. It is a matter of people being aware of the resources and willing to seek assistance. A lot of people, especially minorities and members of the LGBTQ community, are afraid to seek out help.

A lack of mental health resources can lead to:

• Suicide
• Divorce
• Homelessness
• Unemployment
• Cyclical poverty
• Substance abuse

When people are embarrassed of their identity, they are less likely to ask for help.

What Makes Vallejo Unique When It Comes to Mental Health?

Vallejo is a very small city in a very large state. The average income is low. People seem to either have a great job at a medical center or they work for minimum wage at a theme park. With this dichotomy between the cultures, you can expect there to be issues in seeking out mental health assistance.

• Culture: Vallejo is made up of just about every culture group you can imagine. It is the most ethnically diverse city in the country as of 2012. It also has a huge LGBT community.
• Economic: The median household income is under $60,000 and it is expensive to live in the city. This doesn’t leave a lot of extra money for therapy and counseling.
• Climate: The climate is more seasonal than other parts of California. It can be a very foggy and wet place at times. This can lead to depression and seasonal affective disorder.

Divorce Rate in Vallejo, California

The divorce rate in Vallejo is about 11%. This is higher than most American cities. The number is also a bit misleading. There is a high percentage of the population (33%) in Vallejo who were never married. One possible reason for this is the gay subculture in the city. Marriage rates are still lower amongst this group than in mainstream society.

Vallejo suffers from the same issues that trigger divorce in any U.S. city – financial stress, unemployment, and fear of marriage.

Mental Health Resources in Vallejo, California

Vallejo doesn’t seem to have a large mental health crisis like some American cities. Less than 10% of the people in Vallejo suffer from serious mental health issues. However, as pointed out earlier, this is only based on reported figures. There are a lot of people who either don’t participate in studies or fail to seek out mental health resources.

There are about 318 mental health professionals for every 100,000 people in Vallejo. This is one of the higher ratios we see for such a small city. The problem isn’t the number of mental health professionals. It is a matter of feeling comfortable seeking out mental health treatment.