Therapists in Murfreesboro, TN and Nearby Locations

Overview of Mental Health Resources in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Murfreesboro, Tennessee is a city on the rise. It has almost doubled in size from 2000 to 2010, with a current population of about 120,000 people. It is about 35 miles from Nashville and has been identified as the number one growing city in the country.

Murfreesboro is home to the second-largest college in the state, Middle Tennessee State University with over 22,000 students. These students make up about 15% of the population. Because students are transient, they don’t put down roots in the city. However, more and more people are migrating into the city because it’s so close to Nashville but is a lot less expensive.

The median household income is only $53,000. This number is skewed because such a large part of the city is college students with no income. One other interesting thing is that men in Murfreesboro make 1 ½ times as much as women on average. Despite it being one of the fastest growing cities, they still underpay and under-employ women. despite the low household income level.

Mental Health Statistics for Murfreesboro

One of the greatest mental health issues plaguing Murfreesboro and the entire Nashville area is substance abuse. Drug use in Murfreesboro is about 5% higher than it is in the rest of the country. It’s also higher in the Nashville area than in the rest of the state.

In addition to drug abuse, there is a high incidence of mental health illness in Murfreesboro. Almost 9% of the population of Murfreesboro suffers from major depression. And, these numbers only account for adults. When you add in the number of children suffering a serious mental health issue, these numbers increase.

Impact of Not Receiving Treatment in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

The reason a lot of people in Murfreesboro don’t receive the mental health treatment they need is two-fold. First, people dealing with substance abuse issues are reluctant to seek any type of treatment. Since many drug abusers are also suffering from a serious mental illness, it compounds the problem when they don’t get the help they need.

The other reason people don’t get treatment is that 15% of the population are college students. Despite having access to college mental health resources, college kids are reluctant to admit they have a problem and get help.

A lack of mental health resources can lead to:

• Suicide
• Divorce
• Criminal activity
• Homelessness
• Unemployment
• Worsened mental health issues
• Substance abuse

If people have better access to mental health information, they may not be so reluctant to seek out help.

What Makes Murfreesboro Unique When It Comes to Mental Health?

There is nothing remarkable about Murfreesboro. It is just like every other small city in the United States. The difference is, that it’s very close to Nashville, one of the most exciting cities in the U.S. People tend to come and go, without setting down any roots. People who come to Murfreesboro also have left their families and friends behind, either for college or to pursue a dream career in music.

• Culture: Murfreesboro is a college town, with a mixture of people from all over the country. It is close to Nashville, one of the greatest music cities in the world.
• Economic: The median household income is under $55,000 and the poverty level is quite high at 16%.
• Climate: The climate in Tennessee is kind of mild when compared to most of the country. It’s also far enough away from the swampy Southeast that it’s bearable in the summers.

Divorce Rate in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

The divorce rate in Tennessee is the 10th highest in the country. Over 19 people per 1,000 people which is quite high. Part of this is due to the transiency of the population. Also, since there are not many people getting married in the Nashville area, there is nothing to skew the divorce rate.

Murfreesboro suffers from the same issues that trigger divorce in any U.S. city – financial stress, unemployment, and fear of marriage.

Mental Health Resources in Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro has a shortage of mental health resources. As opposed to most other cities which have over 150-200 mental health professionals for every 100,000, there are only 74 in Murfreesboro. There just aren’t enough counselors and doctors to help people with mental health illnesses.

With such a shortage of resources, it makes it even harder for people to find information about mental health assistance. There needs to be an easier way for people to have access to these resources.