Therapists in North Charleston, SC and Nearby Locations

Mental Health in North Charleston, South Carolina

North Charleston, South Carolina may very well be one of the youngest incorporated cities in the United States; the city was incorporated in 1972 after decades of effort. When North Charleston was officially born, the city had 22,000 residents and was the fourth-largest city in South Carolina. Within a year, 53,000 people called North Charleston home. As of July 2017, North Charleston had 110,861 residents.

North Charleston and other South Carolina cities have dealt with plenty of challenges in modern times, especially 1989’s Hurricane Hugo. However, multiple news sources and government statistics indicate that life is improving in North Charleston — especially when it comes to accessing treatment for mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, ADHD, and anxiety.

Poverty and Mental Illness in North Charleston, South Carolina

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty level for North Charleston is 22.7% — which is substantially higher than the state average of 15.4% and nearly double the U.S. average of 12.3%.

Also, nearly 21% of North Charleston residents under the age of 65 do not have health insurance — this is more than twice the national average of 10.2% and significantly higher than South Carolina’s 13.2% average.

Consequently, finances could present a significant challenge to North Charleston, South Carolina residents seeking mental health care services.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), poverty worsens the symptoms of serious mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

Mental Health Statistics for North Charleston, South Carolina

According to a report from the American Psychological Association, South Carolina has only 782 active psychologists. This is one of the lowest numbers in the United States.

According to SAMHSA’s South Carolina Behavioral Health Barometer for 2015, the state has mental illness prevalence rates that are nearly identical to the national average. The percentage of major depressive episodes among South Carolina children ages 12-17 in 2013-2014 was 10% — 1 percentage point lower than the U.S. average of 11% for the same period. The average for serious mental illnesses among South Carolina adults in 2013-2014 was 4.3% — a fraction of a percentage point higher than the national average of 4.2%.

However, a report from the non-profit advocacy organization Mental Health America suggests that the aforementioned statistics could be at least partially misleading. The report ranked South Carolina number 37 (out of 50 states plus the District of Columbia) regarding the prevalence of mental illness among children and adults as well as access to treatment. According to Mental Health America, nearly 18% of South Carolina’s adults struggle with some type of mental illness.

The good news, according to the report, is that access to mental health care for South Carolina children and adolescents improved in the period studied (2011-2014).

Mental Health Resources for North Charleston, South Carolina

According to a SAMHSA online search engine, there is only one facility in North Charleston that provides inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment to teens and adults. This facility also provides substance abuse treatment services. There do not appear to be any mental health care services for children in North Charleston.

It appears that some residents of North Charleston visit neighboring cities such as Charleston (approximately five miles away), Goose Creek (approximately eight miles away), and Summerville (approximately 13 miles away) for their mental health and/or substance abuse treatment. SAMHSA lists seven mental health care providers and four substance abuse treatment providers within a 13-mile radius of North Charleston.

Some of the inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment services available in and near North Charleston, South Carolina offer low-cost or free treatment to people with low income and/or no insurance. It is always worth asking for payment options, even if you have health insurance and/or a steady job.

Challenges of Finding a Suitable Therapist in North Charleston, South Carolina

This website is dedicated to helping people in North Charleston, South Carolina, and every other U.S. city find the best mental health treatment available.

While your employer or health insurer likely has a referral service, you are likely to end up frustrated after hours of completing rather personal forms. More often than not, providers recommended by your employer or health insurer have few or no appointments.