Therapists in Knoxville, TN and Nearby Locations

Mental Health Resources Knoxville, Tennessee

The famous city of Knoxville is in Knox County, Tennessee. It boasts an impressive population of 187,347 residents as of 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making it the third largest city in the state of Tennessee. Knoxville is known for its exquisite location in the Great Appalachian Valley. The town is amenity-laden with plenty of theaters, museums, restaurants, shopping centers, and more. Knoxville is not light on entertainment, even sporting its very own massive 53-acre zoo.

Located in Knoxville, Tennessee is one of the nation’s fastest-growing cable networks. Job opportunity is the number one motivation behind why people want to move to and around the city. However, the job market is not as strong as some might think in Knoxville. And, for those who get a job, maintaining it is another challenge, with layoffs happening every day. The income per capita in the city of Knoxville is 23% lower than the national average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But, the large number of high-income people is likely a cause of a greater problem the city is going through. Experts say the city of Knoxville is experiencing a mental health crisis. So is the entire state of Tennessee. Let’s go over what mental health care looks like in Knoxville, what’s to blame for the poor status quo, and what you can do if you need counseling.

As previously mentioned, the concern of mental health is not one relegated to Knoxville alone. Instead, the entire state is experiencing a mental health crisis. As per a 2017 study commissioned by Mental Health America, the prevalence of mental illnesses among Tennessee adults is higher than in 47 other states (Including the District of Columbia). When grading Tennessee’s level of access to mental health care, the state was ranked 48^th again, making it one of the worst states for seeking out treatment for mental illness. In this context, and for the future, mental illness refers to any disorder of the mind, ranging from anxiety and clinical depression to PTSD. But, what is causing the rate of mental illness to be so high?

Firstly, Knoxville has a major crime problem. County officials have described crime as being rampant in the streets. According to statistics from the FBI, the overall crime rate in the city of Knoxville is a whopping 127% higher than the national average. It is no secret that crime is one of Knoxville’s most prolific problems and something needs to be done. However, crime has a strong correlation with mental illness. Areas that have a lot of crime tend to have higher rates of mental illness among their citizens. Unfortunately, Knoxville does not appear to be an exception.

While the cost of living in Knoxville is relatively low, especially compared to other cities of similar sizes, employment is still a problem. The number of people living below the federal poverty level is 76% higher than the rest of the nation, as per the U.S. Census Bureau. Poverty is a statistic of extreme concern, as it correlates heavily with other negative statistics, such as crime. There is also a link between poverty and mental illness. Growing up in an impoverished manner contributes to mental illness, statistically speaking.

The Trouble of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Knoxville, Tennessee

Regrettably, the majority of people living in Knoxville who need treatment will not receive any. According to Mental Health America, 56% of American adults with a mental illness will not receive any care whatsoever. The penalties for lack of treatment are significant. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, mood-affecting disorders, such as bipolar disorder, are the third most common cause of hospitalization for Americans between the ages of 18 and 44.

What is to blame for the abysmal lack of access to care for mental illnesses in Knoxville? Experts believe the nationwide shortage of mental health professionals, poorly crafted and executed policies, stigma, and poverty are the causes of the access to care problem. A 2016 report from the Health Resources and Services Administration detailed an extreme shortage of 250,000 workers in the mental health care provider industry.

Additionally, the inhabitants of Knoxville are more likely to be uninsured than the average American. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 14.2% of those in Knoxville lack any form of health insurance. The national average is estimated to be 8.8%. The absence of insurance combined with a low income makes therapy and other forms of treatment largely unaffordable.