Olathe, Kansas Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health Resources in Olathe, Kansas

Johnson County is home to Kansas’s four largest cities, including Olathe. Olathe presents a unique challenge for mental health providers. The local suicide rate is even higher than the national average at 13.2 per 100,000 residents. Between January and October 2015, there were 59 suicides in Johnson County, 30 percent of which were persons between the ages of 21 and 40.

Johnson County has also grappled with the national opioid crisis. The most recent statistics put 8.9 per 100,000 residents dying of an overdose. Of the adult residents of Johnson County, 15.7 percent have a diagnosed depressive disorder. Meanwhile, 12.6 percent of residents smoke cigarettes, and more than half of these have reported difficulty trying to quit. Tobacco, drug, and alcohol addiction all play a significant role in mental health disorders and the need for counseling; in Johnson County, 28.1 percent of smokers have a diagnosed depressive disorder. Twenty-one percent of the population has no health insurance, 19.8 percent earns less than $35,000 annually, and more than 16 percent live with a disability.

Each of these factors is significant when analyzing the mental health of a region, drawing a picture of the mental health services needed in Olathe.

Effects of Education, Divorce Rates, and Other Criteria

As of 2016, the population of Johnson County had grown by 17 percent. This included a 6 percent increase in families living in poverty, or 30,000 individuals. While this is lower than the national average, the most affected age range is 18 to 24, followed by children aged 0 to 17. People between 18 and 24 are at the highest risk of suicide, while those who face childhood without necessities often have unique mental health needs.

The average age of those facing homelessness in Olathe is 15 years old. Fifteen percent of the population reported that they often or always worry about paying their bills. Meanwhile, 17 percent of adult residents reported binge drinking (higher than the state average), while 8 percent lacked any form of health insurance. Eighteen percent reported that they do not have a healthcare provider of any kind.

The education criteria for Olathe are positive. The town has a low high school dropout rate of only 6 percent, meaning that 94 percent of residents have a high school degree. Meanwhile, 47 percent have at least a bachelor’s degree or some form of higher education. This is important to consider since education affects the mental health of both individuals and communities.

As of 2016, the divorce rate in Olathe was slightly under 10 percent. This is better than the majority of the country, which hovers somewhere in the low to mid-40s. Divorce opens the door to unique needs in mental healthcare, including couple’s therapy and individual therapy following divorce or separation.

These statistics show that Johnson County has some high-risk factors for mental health conditions, with many residents facing financial, emotional, and psychological difficulties. This illustrates the need for access to good mental health services in Olathe.

Mental Health Resources in Olathe

Since the Kansas Mental Health Reform Act of 1990, priorities have shifted from maintaining inpatient clinics to providing outpatient services at a community level. This means that it is becoming easier to find therapy in a local, comfortable setting. However, the state still struggles to provide adequate services for the number of people in need. In 2016, 97 areas around the state reported having inadequate or understaffed facilities. A 2014 report showed that 53 percent of Kansans with mental disorders did not seek therapy due to lack of access or money. Thankfully, Olathe has many counselors and therapists ready to serve the community.