There are few cities in the U.S. whose overall mental health more exactly rides the presiding wave of the economy than Las Vegas. Whenever times are good (and more people have extra cash to bring into play on high-rolling getaways and real estate) Las Vegas rides high as well. Work is plentiful and people relocate from all over the country to enjoy the good times, glitz and glamour.
The abundance of entertainment, plus the dream to strike it rich in the casinos keeps the tourist industry vibrant. Housing is fairly affordable as well, and the cost of living relatively low, so those who come to this busy city to work and live are usually well positioned to make a good go of it. Due to this roller coaster ride, however, the Las Vegas psychiatry network confronts some unique difficulties, and unfortunately, there is a severe shortage of competent therapists to handle the workload.
Vegas continues to be among the fastest growing cities in the US. As stated before, however, this electric oasis in the desert is also a mirror of the economy at large, so when the economic downturn occurred, the effects were felt in this town more severely than in most of the country.
One of the more overlooked results of the economic downturn is that of the mental health of a financially struggling population, and one of the most overlooked problems in Las Vegas is a shortage of mental health professionals that reside and work in the city. Recently, the patient to psychiatrist ratio in Nevada was estimated to be around 700:1, which is about twice the number that health officials would like to see.
Las Vegas mental health professionals face distinctive problems. The state of Nevada has the highest levels of stress in the united states, relative to other states. The lifestyle of this desert city is largely accountable for the stress. Still, even during these tough economic times, the populace is growing by an estimated 175 people a day, putting further pressure on the job market. The rates of depression, anxiety, and marital problems (as a result of job losses and housing foreclosures – among the highest in the country) are likely a big reason that local suicides have increased over the last few years.
Fortunately, both state and city officials recognize the issue and are in the process of providing residents with more and better resources. A mental health services center for Southern Nevada has recently opened in Las Vegas, and the non-profit sector has stepped up to meet the challenge and offer more resources, services, and therapies.
The shortage continues to be a problem, and the caseload is unique, but thankfully, it appears that strides are being made to meet the needs of the crisis.
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