Raleigh, is the capital of the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. One of the fastest growing cities in the country, the city of Raleigh is — as a whole — rather healthy when compared to state averages in North Carolina for both physical and mental health. That said, Raleigh, much like any city, is not without its share of health concerns. According to Wake County Human Services, the top five health issues (as chosen by residents) were:
- Obesity
- Mental health
- Injuries
- Diabetes
- Teen pregnancy
Obesity was actually the top answer in 44-percent of all responses and continues to be a concern for Raleigh as well as North Carolina as a whole. Childhood obesity is particularly shocking, with nearly 30-percent (29.6%) of all Wake County Residents, ages 5 to 11, considered obese or morbidly obese; this, according to a report by the North Carolina Medical Journal. From 2000 to 2008 the average has risen – seemingly in tandem – with state-wide averages. Yearly growth is (on average) 8 to 10-percent, and North Carolina remains in the top third nationwide for obesity amongst children, just as it has for the past decade.
Mental health is second on the list, and the most common conditions are depression, anxiety, and dementia. 17-percent of all Wake County residents have reported being diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetimes, but county officials believe the actual number could be much higher. Suicide is higher than the national average, and according to the above-mentioned Wake County Human Services study, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for adults aged 25 to 44, statewide.
Another common concern amongst citizens of Raleigh, or Wake County is the dwindling support and funding for mental health services. Citizens have reported government cuts in services which often lead the mentally ill to the emergency room, which can be quite the bottleneck for physical medical care in the region. Estimates state that approximately 150,000 North Carolina residents with psychiatric and addictive disorders are forced to use the state’s already crowded emergency rooms for treatment due to a lack of public funding. The under funding of mental health in the region (as well as the state as a whole) could lead to a plethora of problems in the area.
The Wake County Human Services report states that with 900,000 residents within the county, an estimated 36,000 adults are in need of treatment for a mental health disorder in Wake County. If you or a loved one is one of the tens of thousands of people with a mental health condition that needs help finding a qualified therapist, TherapyTribe aims to make this difficult task easier. We have numerous qualified mental health professionals in Raleigh, North Carolina listed, and we hope you find the help you need.