Shawnee, Kansas Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Shawnee, Kansas

Shawnee, Kansas, is a suburb of Kansas City and is one of the most prosperous areas in all the state. It has also been ranked as one of the top places to live in Kansas. Shawnee is characterized by boutique-esque coffee shops, bars, shops and parks. Most of the 65,513+ residents in the city own their own homes, and most lean toward the conservative side. The public schools in the area are highly rated. It received a Niche rating of A+ and an AreaVibes livability score of 83.

Shawnee, Kansas, Demographics

It’s already been established that Shawnee has a great environment, but what about it caused Niche and AreaVibes to grant the city such great livability scores? A lot of factors may come have come into play.

As of 2017, the median household income in Shawnee was $81,964. This number is significantly higher than the national median household income of $55,322 and the state median of $53,571. However, there is a huge discrepancy between men’s pay and women’s pay. Males earned an average of $74,380 while women in similar professions and of similar skill levels earned just $58,699. This is a factor worth noting as you continue on to the next section. The poverty rate in Shawnee is 5.4 percent, which is lower than the state’s poverty rate but higher than the county’s.

The median property value in Shawnee was, as of 2017, $214,900. When you compare this value with the median household income in the area, it’s easy to see why nearly three-quarters of the homes in the suburb are owner-occupied. The average annual property tax is $3,000.

Nearly 50 percent of Shawnee residents aged 25 or older possessed a bachelor’s degree or higher. Approximately 95 percent of residents are high school graduates.

The age of the average Shawnee resident is 37.8, which is right on par with the age of the average U.S. citizen. 85.9 percent of residents are white, 4.7 percent are African American, 7.1 percent are Hispanic or Latino and 4 percent are two or more races.

The State of Mental Health in Shawnee, Kansas

When you look at the numbers, you would think that Shawnee is a suburb untouched by mental health concerns. However, some of the factors that make Shawnee such a great place to live may also cause or compound emotional and behavioral disorders. Some such factors that could be harmful are as follows:

• Wealth: Several studies show the correlation between poverty and mental illness, but not to many connect wealth and mental disorders. However, a University of California Berkeley study found that the pursuit of power despite interpersonal costs and high levels of pride contribute to mania. The study also found that those with an inflated sense of self-worth are prone to narcissistic personality disorders, depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders.

Though much of Shawnee is living in wealth, it is important to bear in mind that about five percent live in poverty. Poverty-stricken individuals who live in areas with extreme levels of inequality are three times more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders.

• Gender Pay Gap: The gender pay gap has existed for far too long, and though women are making leaps and bounds in combatting it, it’s still a very prevalent problem, as the income disparity in Shawnee indicates. More recent studies show that working women, and women in general, are two times more likely to live with depression and 2.5 times more likely to experience anxiety.
• Occupation: The most common jobs held by Shawnee residents were in administration and management. According to one study, office workers exhibit higher rates of depression and anxiety than those who work in manufacturing.