Therapists in Alexandria, VA and Nearby Locations

Mental Health Resources in Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria, Virginia is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The heart of town has stores and shopfronts. It can be described as quaint. However, it is only 7 miles away from the nation’s capital. Most of the people who live in Alexandria are working professionals who have jobs in D.C.

The median household income in Alexandria reflects the fact that it is so close to D.C. At over $82,000, the median household income is much higher here than in the rest of the state. However, the cost of living is also high. The stress that comes along with a higher salary can cause serious mental health issues.

As far as overall mental health in Alexandria, it is similar to other large cities. Given the stress of people’s jobs, people in Alexandria do suffer from mental health issues. There are a ton of mental health professionals in Alexandria. You could spend all day going through the hundreds of entries on Google. However, people don’t always have access to mental health resources.

Mental Health Statistics for Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria is a rather small city. The population is only 151,000 people. For Virginia, in general. Over 1.5 million people suffer from a mental health illness. About 350,000 of these would qualify as a serious mental health illness. Another quarter of a million people in Virginia are suffering from a substance abuse issue. This just compounds their problems with mental illness.

The poverty rate in Alexandria is low at under 10%. You can’t attribute the mental health issues to those with financial difficulties. The group suffering the most are the professionals making that commute every day to D.C. They work highly stressful and high-powered jobs. With these types of jobs come a large amount of stress and anxiety.

Impact of Not Receiving Treatment in Alexandria

There are only about 151,000 people in Alexandria. Yet there are over 350 mental health professionals in the city. It is not a matter of the number of mental health professionals. The issue is that the people in Alexandria don’t have the time or wherewithal to seek mental health treatment.

A lack of mental health resources can lead to:

• Suicide
• Divorce
• Homelessness
• Unemployment
• Cyclical poverty
• Substance abuse

If people in Alexandria had access to quick, around-the-clock mental health treatment, they would be more likely to seek out help. With their work schedules and commute, they don’t have time to spend hours calling around for a mental health professional. They would benefit from a one-stop mental health resource for people in all major cities in the United States.

What Makes Alexandria Unique When It Comes to Mental Health?

Alexandria is more akin to New York City or Washington D.C. than it is to other cities in Virginia. Salaries are high and homes are valuable. However, time is a rarity.

• Culture: The culture in Alexandria is mixed. Most people are on the younger side given their proclivity to work in government. The median age is only 36.
• Economic: People in Alexandria do better financially than their counterparts in the rest of the state. However, high salaries can give rise to high-stress levels and anxiety.
• Climate: The climate in Alexandria is seasonal. They have very hot and humid summers and very cold and snowy winters. Anyone who lives in this type of climate knows that these highs and lows can lead to depression and anxiety.

Divorce Rate in Alexandria, Virginia

An interesting thing about Alexandria is that 40% of all married people are already on their second marriage. Given the fact that the population is so young, this gives you an idea of how high the initial divorce rate must be!

With mostly younger people moving into the area, you can expect the marriage rate to be a bit lower. Most people in Alexandria are focused on their careers. They don’t put the time and effort into their marriages or finding a spouse.

Mental Health Resources in Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria has its share of mental health issues. They may manifest themselves differently because of the makeup of the city. However, just as many people go without mental health treatment in Alexandria as in most major U.S. cities.

There are about 261 mental health professionals for every 100,000 people in Atlanta. This is a healthy ratio. The problem is that people don’t have time to shop around for a mental health professional. If they had a place to get information quickly, they would be more likely to seek the mental health treatment they need.