Therapists in Springfield, OR and Nearby Locations

An Overview of Mental Health in Springfield, Oregon

The second most populous city in the Oregon metropolitan area, coming in only after Eugene, Springfield, Oregon, is nestled right in the Southern Willamette Valley. The city was first settled in 1848 and is named after a natural spring in the area. Largely dependent on the timber industry in the early days, PeaceHealth now employs more people in the city than any other organization.

Springfield is home to 16 elementary schools, 7 secondary schools, one community college, and 5 four-year universities and colleges. There are over 680 acres of recreation facilities in the city with 5 community centers, 35 parks, 12 tennis courts, one teen center, and two community swimming pools. The city itself employs 235 people and with two hospitals in the city, there is a capacity for 500 patients in beds.

In 2014, the city’s population was 60,263, up 14% from the last census report in 2000. The median resident age is 35.8 and the median household income is $41,911. This is quite a bit lower than the estimated median household income for the entire state, which is $57,532. The city is 80% white alone, 12.6% Hispanic, 3.8% two or more races, 1.5% Asian, 1.1% American Indian and less than 1% black.

In 2016, the cost of living index in Springfield, Oregon, was 95.4. This is lower than the country’s average, which is 100. Living in Springfield is slightly less expensive than the average in other cities, although the household income rates are lower.

Almost 87% of residents have a high school degree or higher, while 16.8% have a bachelor’s degree or higher. While the country’s unemployment rate was 3.6% in Jan 2020, Springfield’s is a bit higher at 3.8%. Even though the cost of living is lower in Springfield, it is often not enough to offset the lower income rates and the high unemployment rate.

Just over 40% of the population are married with 35% reporting they have never married. The divorce rate is 16.7%, while the country’s divorce rate as a whole is dropping drastically. As people get married later in life, they are more likely to stay together and avoid divorce.

Crime rates in Springfield are unusually high, with the index at 324.6 and the country’s average at 281.5. This means that the residents of Springfield are more likely to commit or be victims of both violent crimes and property crimes such as robberies, assaults, burglaries, auto thefts, murders, and arson.

In 2016, mental health professionals and police reached a point where they became overwhelmed with the increasing number of those with mental illness. Statistics show that in Oregon, one in 18.5 adults has some type of mental illness, one in nine kids has a severe emotional disturbance and suicide is the leading cause of death for veterans in Oregon over 45. In Portland, the capital of Oregon, the suicide rate is three times the national average.

Mental Health Resources in Springfield, Oregon

The state addressed these issues by splitting 1.7 million dollars between seven health centers in Oregon to benefit more than 800,000 Oregon residents. Health centers were given the funds to integrate primary care and recruit top talent. Additional funding was included to ensure that more communities receive mental health treatment. Health centers like the Native American Rehabilitation Center, Inc., and Central City Concern received funds to improve mental health care.

One of the main concerns with treating mental illness is the stigma that is associated with searching for help. While many feel they are judged for having a mental illness, the reality is that these conditions can hit anyone at any time. While there are genetic and risk factors associated with illnesses like anxiety and depression, the truth is that they can hit anyone who is going through a hard life event.