Oct 8, 2024
Since the 2020 Pandemic, mental health rates across the country have been increasing. Although mental health professionals have scrambled to meet the need, rates have continued to rise. Across the US, 54.7% over 28 million people) of people with a mental health disorder do not receive any mental health treatment treatment, and more than a quarter do not receive adequate treatment.
Forbes recently conducted a study and found that Texas was the worst state for mental health care. Why? Primarily because mental health services in Texas are inadequate compared to the number of people who are struggling with their mental health.
This blog looks at why Texas mental health is struggling, what can be done about it, and the mental health resources near you in Texas.
Texas Mental Health Services: Fast Facts
Forbes ranked all the states across seven different metrics. Here’s how Texas mental health services ranked:
- 29.6% of adults with a mental illness do not receive adequate treatment
- 74.9% of youth with depression do not receive mental health treatment
- 21.4% of adults with mental illness are uninsured and cannot afford mental healthcare costs.
- A third of adults in Texas who have a mental health disorder are not able to see a doctor due to costs.
- Only 8.4 per 10,000 businesses are mental health businesses, much lower than the national average
- 62.3% of adults with a mental health issue receive no treatment at all, compared with the estimated 50% nationwide average.
Why is Texas Mental Health Rated So Low?
What’s going on with Texas’ mental health? Are people truly just less happy in the Lone Star State? Or are Texas therapists less qualified?
No, and no. Texas can be a wonderful place to live, and the Texas professional therapist board is just as qualified as other states. Instead, this study ranked how easy it was for people to receive effective mental health treatment when they need it. Texas ranked low because it has:
- A high percentage of uninsured people
- Expensive mental health treatment services
- Too little mental health services for the demand
- Inadequate youth mental health services
With these in mind, we can devise a future in which Texans’ mental health issues are treated quickly, efficiently, and affordably.
How to Improve Texans’ Mental Health
Seven years ago, 80% of Texas counties were considered a “Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas”, meaning there were more than 30,000 residents per clinician, according to the Texas Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan. The ratio of clinicians to residents has only declined in the years since; in 2023 98% of Texan’s counties were considered wholly or partially Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas.
The therapists Texas does have are frequently fully booked, with waitlists commonly stretching out six or seven months. Texas Universities aren’t pushing out enough new graduates to keep up with the ones retiring.
To provide better mental health services in Texas, government officials have proposed a number of solutions, including:
- Loan repayment assistance if a mental health provider met certain requirements.
- Easier access to mental health professionals in schools.
- Focus on online therapy, which is often cheaper and more convenient than in-person counseling options.
- Better mental health support for therapists to prevent burnout
If you are in Texas and struggling with your mental health, know you aren’t alone. There are Texas mental health services available to you, and with the rise of online therapy, it may be cheaper than you think.
Texas Mental Health Resources
It can be exhausting trying to find a mental health therapist while struggling with your mental health. In Texas, the most common mental health issues people seek help for are:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts
- Alcohol and drug use
- Relationship issues
- Eating Disorders
- ADHD
- OCD
- Bipolar Disorder
- Personality Disorders
This is not a complete list, and you don’t need a mental health diagnosis to receive treatment from a licensed therapist. Anyone can see a counselor for their mental, emotional, and relational health. If you are struggling, reach out.
Please note that most therapists are not a crisis line. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. If you are not in immediate danger but still need to talk to someone ASAP, consider these crisis lines:
- Text “Home” to 741741, a texting hotline
- Call 988, the national suicide hotline
If you are looking for consistent therapy to address your mental health issues, you might want to try online therapy. Online therapy in Texas is affordable, effective, and often has much shorter wait lines than in-person therapy.
Online Therapy in Texas
Online therapy is quickly becoming a valuable resource for teachers, individuals, and mental health practitioners. It allows therapists to conduct therapy without having to pay expensive overhead costs, and clients can receive high-quality, effective therapy from the comfort and privacy of their own home.
Plus, research shows that online therapy is just as effective (and, in some cases, more effective) than in-person therapy.
Because therapists save money by conducting telehealth appointments, online therapy is often cheaper than in-person therapy. With insurance, online therapy averages between $30-$50.
Lifebulb Counseling and Therapy has online mental health therapists in all Texas counties with no wait time. We accept most major insurances and our therapists treat a wide variety of mental illnesses. All of our therapists have a Masters degree or beyond and are Licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.
For more information on Lifebulb’s mental health therapy in Texas, give our support team a call. If you’re ready to receive mental health treatment today, browse our Texas therapist directory and find a therapist who works well for you.
