Therapists in West Palm Beach, FL and Nearby Locations

An Overview of Mental Health in West Palm Beach, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. As far as residents, some live there during the traditional winter season of other states such as New York and Massachusetts while others live in West Palm Beach the entire year.

The geographic area in which West Palm Beach is located is commonly called The Palm Beaches and has been trademarked as “America’s first resort destination.” People can participate in everything from snorkeling to golfing at some of the most famous golf courses in the world.

Because of the popularity of The Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach and its surrounding communities have plenty of medical treatment options — including a variety of therapists, support groups, psychiatrists, and other types of care for mental illnesses (i.e. schizophrenia, anxiety, or bipolar disorder) and/or substance abuse.

Poverty and Mental Illness in West Palm Beach, Florida

As of July 2017, West Palm Beach had 110,222 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The poverty level for West Palm Beach is 19%, which is substantially higher than both the state average of 14% and the U.S. average of 12.3%.

Therefore, finances could present a challenge to West Palm Beach, Florida residents who need mental health care services.

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 West Palm Beach, Florida

According to a report from the American Psychological Association, Florida has nearly 2,900 active psychologists — one of the highest numbers in the Southeast region of the United States. Such a large number of psychologists indicates how pervasive the problem of mental illness is among people throughout the state.

According to SAMHSA’s Florida Behavioral Health Barometer for 2015, the state has mental illness prevalence rates that are slightly lower than the national average.

The percentage of major depressive episodes among Florida children ages 12-17 in 2013-2014 was 10.5% —half a percentage point lower than the U.S. average of 11% for the same period.

The average for serious mental illnesses among Florida adults in 2013-2014 was 3.7% — again half a percentage point lower than the national average of 4.2%.

Between 2010 and 2014, nearly 37% of Florida adults with any mental illness received counseling or other related treatment. This was somewhat lower than the national average of nearly 43% for the same period. It is unclear whether the lower incidence of adults receiving mental health services was caused by the usual stigma that accompanies any mental illness diagnosis, geographically or financially inconvenient access to mental health care, and/or other factors such as Florida’s year-round sunny weather (which can reduce or eliminate symptoms of some mental illnesses such as seasonal affective disorder or SAD).

Mental Health Resources for West Palm Beach, Florida

A SAMHSA online search engine lists seven facilities in West Palm Beach that offer inpatient and outpatient mental health services for children and adults. On the other hand, there are 21 providers of services related to substance abuse in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Some of the inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment services available in West Palm Beach and nearby cities offer low-cost or free treatment to people with low income and/or no insurance. It is always worth inquiring about payment options, even if you do have health insurance and/or a steady job.

Challenges of Finding a Suitable Therapist in West Palm Beach, Florida

This website is dedicated to helping people in West Palm Beach, Florida and every other U.S. city find the best mental health treatment available.

While your employer or health insurer likely has a referral service, you are likely to end up frustrated after hours of completing rather personal forms. More often than not, providers recommended by your employer or health insurer have few or no appointments.