Therapists in Janesville, WI and Nearby Locations

An Overview of Mental Health in Janesville, Wisconsin

With a population of 64,359 people, Janesville, Wisconsin is the largest city in Rock County. Residents of the city can enjoy moderate temperatures in the mid-80s during the summer months and get heavy snowfall in winter. While some communities might not like the piling snow, residents of Janesville love winter recreational activities like ice skating, sledding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing.

Although there are many fun ways for residents to spend their time in the city, there are those in Janesville who struggle with mental illnesses and need treatment for their conditions. Awareness of the mental health situation in the city and knowing where to access treatment are two essential steps for finding help.

Mental Health Concerns in Janesville, Wisconsin

Residents living in Janesville, Wisconsin, and the rest of Rock County experience a unique set of mental health concerns:

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

As detailed in Rock County’s most recent community health assessment, survey results indicate that community members listed drug abuse as one of the top five health problems more than any other health concern. Alcohol abuse ranked second and mental health ranked fourth. For the most concerning risky behaviors, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and drunk driving took the top three spots. Additionally, many people indicated they would like to see more mental health services and alcohol and drug abuse services in their community.

People living in Rock County perceive there is a huge substance abuse and mental health problem in their community. Several statistics support their perception. In 2017, 39 percent of all driving deaths involved alcohol. In Wisconsin, there was a 72 percent increase in the number of drug overdose rates. Heroin and cocaine were the leading cause of death due to drug overdose, and a total of 1,031 people died from an overdose in 2016.  Rock County has an age-adjusted drug overdose rate between 2.0 and 2.4, which is higher than many other counties in Wisconsin that provided data.

Physical Health

While mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia can hurt your health, this is a lot of research that reveals good physical health habits have a positive impact on one’s overall mental health. Although 87 percent of residents in Rock County report having adequate access to exercise opportunities, 22 percent of the community claims they are inactive, and 37 percent of adults are obese.

Divorce

Janesville, Wisconsin has an average divorce rate compared to the rest of the country with 13.6 percent of the overall population being currently divorced. As a state, Wisconsin rates 9^th for having the lowest divorce rates in the nation. While many factors contribute to divorce, recent studies have found a correlation between unemployment rates and low-income households with higher rates of divorce. There is also research that suggests having a mental health illness can increase one’s chance of experiencing a divorce.

Alternatively, one’s mental health is negatively affected by a divorce. If you have recently gone through a split and are struggling, it is important to remember that your feelings are valid and that you are not alone. Connecting with a marriage or grief counselor can assist you in recovering from your loss and moving on.

Accessibility to Treatment in Janesville, Wisconsin

According the Mental Health America, 56.4 percent of American adults with a mental illness of some sort did not receive any treatment at the time the data was gathered. In Wisconsin, the rate was slightly lower for adults at 52.6 percent.

One issue that prevents individuals from accessing care for their mental health concerns is a lack of available providers in their area. Wisconsin and Rock County have a relatively low number of providers available to serve their populations. The state ranks 36^th in the country with a ratio of 560 people per mental health provider. Residents of Rock County have even less access to providers with a ratio of 730 to one. Not being able to access treatment can prevent individuals from finding relief for their mental illness.