Therapists in Clarksville, TN and Nearby Locations

An Overview of Mental Health in Clarksville, Tennessee

While it is just a 50-minute drive from the Music City of Nashville, Clarksville, Tennessee is a major city in its own right. Clarksville, which is also near the “Bourbon State” of Kentucky’s border, is the fifth-largest city in Tennessee.

Some people may have heard of Clarksville, Tennessee through The Monkees’ 1966 hit song “The Last Train to Clarksville.”  According to Songfacts, many listeners assumed that the band was crooning about the Tennessee city (there’s also a Clarksville in Indiana, for starters) because of its proximity to Fort Campbell, Kentucky and also because the song was written as a subtle protest to the Vietnam War. However, according to Songfacts, Clarksville was picked just because the name sounded good.

Of course, Clarksville’s inadvertent musical fame and proximity to Nashville are not protections against mental illnesses. Like in any other city in Tennessee, Kentucky, the United States, or the world, all types of people struggle with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses. Finding the right treatment is the key to recovery, but that is not always easy.

Poverty and Mental Illness in Clarksville, Tennessee

As of July 2017, Clarksville has 153,205 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Clarksville’s annual median income level is $48,675, over $2,000 higher than Tennessee’s median of $46,574.

The poverty level for Clarksville is 16.6%, which is 1.6% higher than Tennessee’s average of 15% and significantly higher than the U.S. average of 12.3%.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), poverty worsens the symptoms of serious mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

Poverty also makes it more probable that a person will experience a serious mental illness. Finally, anyone who has a mental health condition such as depression or schizophrenia is more likely to end up living in poverty after symptoms begin to appear. This applies to people of all education levels and professions.

Mental Health Statistics for Clarksville, Tennessee

Tennessee has 950 licensed mental health care professionals as of January 2018, according to a “Fast Facts” report published by the state’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Nearly 8,300 Tennesseans were admitted to one of the state’s Regional Mental Health Institutes (RMHIs) in Fiscal Year 2018 (October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018). However, this statistic does not distinguish the number of people who are not incarcerated who received inpatient mental health services in Fiscal Year 2018.

According to SAMHSA’s Tennessee Behavioral Health Barometer for 2015, the state has mental illness prevalence rates that are reasonably close to the national average. Tennessee’s percentage of major depressive episodes among children ages 12-17 in 2013-2014 was 9.9% — over 1% lower than the U.S. average of 11% for the same period. However, Tennessee’s average for serious mental illnesses among adults in 2013-2014 was 4.7% — half a percentage point higher than the national average of 4.2%.

Mental Health Resources for Clarksville, Tennessee

A SAMHSA online search engine lists three facilities in Clarksville that offer inpatient and outpatient mental health services for children and adults.

Clarksville has one additional facility that focuses on substance abuse treatment. This provider also offers a program for people with dual diagnoses (a dual diagnosis is when someone has a mental illness as well as an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol).

While Clarksville, Tennessee is about 15 miles away from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, it is important to remember that some health insurance companies will not cover out-of-state treatment unless it is an emergency situation. However, if your insurance company will cover treatment or you plan to pay out of pocket, Hopkinsville has three additional options for your mental health treatment.

Those who cannot seek healthcare in Kentucky or Nashville but can make a one-way trip of about 25 miles can take advantage of an additional treatment option in Springfield, Tennessee. Mental health services are also available at one facility in Dickson, Tennessee (approximately 35 miles away from Clarksville).

Some of the inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment services available in Clarksville and surrounding Tennessee and Kentucky cities offer low-cost or free treatment to people with low income and/or no insurance.