Therapists in Cranston, RI and Nearby Locations

Mental Health Resources in Cranston, Rhode Island

With an estimated population of 81,202 people, Cranston, Rhode Island is the third largest city in the state and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. Residents of Cranston enjoy views of the beautiful Pawtuxet River and lush rolling hills. Outdoor enthusiasts will find much to do with bike paths trailing throughout the city, picturesque parks that are teeming with activity, and Budlong Pool which is one of the largest outdoor pools in the United States. Cranston is also home to several sites with historical value, several of which are on the National and State Register of Historic Places.

Even with such a beautiful landscape and numerous activities to participate in, the residents of Cranston, Rhode Island experience their share of challenges. The city’s median house income is $64,282 with about 10% of the population living in poverty. Although these numbers reveal that Cranston is doing relatively well compared to the national median income of $61,372 and a poverty rate of 12.3%, there are still people in the community struggling to make ends meet.

The city also frequently experiences flooding from the Pawtucket River, including a massive flood in 2010 that destroyed many residential homes and businesses. Since the community was not prepared for a flood to this degree, many residents did not have flood insurance and are still recovering from the loss eight years later.

Issues like poverty and national disasters can take a huge toll on your mental health. Like the rest of Rhode Island, Cranston has residents who struggle with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, schizophrenia, or other major mental illnesses. Whether you or a loved one in Cranston are experiencing any of these mental health issues, you must be supplied with resources to discover the help that you need.

Mental Health Concerns in Cranston

One population that is affected significantly by mental health problems both within Cranston and nationwide is the homeless. Since mental illnesses can cause a multitude of symptoms that make keeping a job and functioning normally in society difficult, the mentally ill are often more susceptible to becoming homeless. It is estimated that 3,780 homeless adults in Rhode Island have a mental illness, which is 25% of the homeless population. These numbers line up with the national numbers that reveal a minimum of 25% of homeless people in America have a severe mental illness and that 45% have any sort of mental illness. Unfortunately, it is often very difficult for homeless people to get the help they need and extensive outreach on the part of the city or independent groups is often required to connect these individuals with beneficial resources.

Children and adolescents in Rhode Island are also significantly affected by mental health issues. The Rhode Island Behavioral Health Project in 2015 identified that children in the state were more at risk for substance abuse issues and mental health disorders than any other state. Issues like especially high rates of unemployment, single-parent homes, lack of insurance, and childhood traumatic events are some of the risks they identified. Sadly, 19% of children in Rhode Island have an apparent mental health problem and one-third do not receive the help they need.

Cranston is home to approximately 4,283 veterans, with 40.8% having fought in the Vietnam War. Veterans are especially prone to specific mental health concerns, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and traumatic brain injury. The most prevalent of these is PTSD which has many symptoms to be aware of:

• Substance abuse problems
• Trouble sleeping and concentrating
• Disturbing nightmares and flashbacks
• Intrusive recollections of the event
• Avoidance of specific triggers

Suicide is also prevalent among veterans with an average of 20 veterans committing suicide each day. The most recent Rhode Island veteran suicide statistics show that in 2016 there were a total of 124 reported suicides in Rhode Island with 16 of those being veterans.

Mental Health Resources in Cranston, Rhode Island

Fortunately, there are many local resources available to those who need them in Cranston, Rhode Island including:

• Rhode Island Mental Health Advocate
• The Rhode Island Coalition on Homelessness
• Parent Support Network of Rhode Island