Wilmington, Delaware Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington is a city of 71,106 located in the First State in the nation. The city is easy commuting distance into Philadelphia – although there are ample finance, insurance and healthcare jobs within the city itself – and only a mere two hours from both Washington D.C. and New York City. With fun festivals every summer and easy access to Delaware’s beautiful beaches, Wilmington can be a nice place to live.

Mental health is just as important as physical health. For residents in Wilmington, they may face some of the specific challenges listed below.

• Crime: New Castle County has the highest rate of homicide in Delaware. Although Delaware is a relatively small state, the crime rate is so high in Wilmington that it often ranks high on “most dangerous cities” listings. High crime rates can often result in fear, anxiety and post-traumatic stress that need special mental health attention to heal.
• Substance Abuse: In Delaware, the rate of opioid-related deaths was higher than the national rate. Residents in New Castle County tend to have higher levels of alcohol abuse than others in Delaware or the US, per a community health needs assessment (CHNA). Anyone struggling with the harmful effects of addiction may benefit from mental health services as well.
• Poverty: At 27%, the percentage of Wilmington’s population living in poverty is quite high. Poverty can often result in complicated physical and mental health concerns.
• Suicide: Suicide continues to be a top nationwide mental health concern. The rates in New Castle County are similar to national levels but are still higher than the Healthy People 2020 goal.
• Chronic Health Issues: The CHNA also highlighted high blood pressure, obesity, joint pain, diabetes and arthritis as top health concerns in the region. Managing chronic illnesses can often weigh on the mental health of the patient and caregivers.

The Challenge of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Wilmington

The biggest obstacle to obtaining mental health care in Wilmington is likely to be financial. When residents live in poverty, the focus is often on making ends meet. Treating mental health issues tends to fall low on the priority list.

Individuals facing financial hurdles should look into non-profit groups, community organizations and mobile forms of therapy. These services may be available free of charge or on a sliding scale based on income. Mobile therapy such as voice or video calls are often more affordable than traditional face-to-face therapy.

Some residents may feel stigma around the decision to ask for mental health support. In the wake of rising suicide rates, there’s been a surge in dialogue around mental health. As people become more open in talking about their challenges, hopefully this stigma will fade.

Mental Health Resources in Wilmington

Delaware has relatively decent access to mental health care per national rankings. In an “Access to Care” ranking, Delaware ranked ten out of fifty states. Individuals in Wilmington can access a range of experienced licensed counselors of mental health, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, national board certified counselors and board certified co-occurring disorders professionals.

These therapists have worked with patients of all ages in residential, community based, mobile, inpatient, school, outpatient, hospital and group home settings. They have experience with a wide range of therapy modalities including dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, stages of change theory, motivational interviewing and acceptance and commitment therapy. Even if you don’t know what these different terms mean, your counselor will work with you to find a style that best suits you.

These counselors can offer support for a variety of life’s challenges. Wilmington-area counselors have experience helping clients through many of the following issues.

• Stress
• Grief
• Anxiety
• Trauma and abuse
• Life transitions
• Anger management
• Family and relationship issues
• Depression
• Addiction
• Bipolar disorder
• Eating disorders
• Challenges surrounding blended families

Note, this list is just a sampling of their expertise. To find a counselor who is right for you, it’s best to have an introductory conversation with him or her to inquire about background, experience, treatment styles, etc.