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People have Access to Mental Health Care and Emotional Support and 1 more... less...

Individuals receive behavioral health treatment and support services

Ratio of Residents to Mental Health Providers

Current Value

640 Res. per Provider

2016

Definition

Line Bar Comparison

About This Indicator

Definition: The ratio of the county population to the number of mental health providers including psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists and advanced practice nurses specializing in mental health care. In 2015, marriage and family therapists and mental health providers that treat alcohol and other drug abuse were added to this measure.

Source: County Health Rankings, CMS, National Provider Identification

2025 Target: 638:1










How Do We Compare?

Below is a comparison of the value for this indicator among seven coastal counties: Charlotte, Sarasota, Collier, Lee, Manatee, Hillsborough, and Pinellas. These counties have been recommended as comparable counties by Sarasota County Government.

Ratio of County Residents per One Mental Health Provider (2016)








Story Behind the Curve

In 2016, there was one mental health care provider per 640 residents in Sarasota County. The ratio of the population to the number of healthcare providers has decreased by 8.6% from 2013 to 2016 in Sarasota County, meaning that there has been an increase in the number of mental healthcare providers. The county’s ratio is lower than the state’s (750: 1), and Sarasota County ranks tenth out of all 67 counties in the lowest ratio of the population to number of mental healthcare providers.

The increase in mental healthcare providers may be due to more public recognition of the need for better mental healthcare access. According to a 2015 report published by Mental Health America, Florida ranks 44th in terms of access to mental health care. 4.1% of adults with any mental illness in Florida are uninsured, placing Florida at 34th in the nation for this metric. Florida ranks 47th on a measure of unmet need, with only 35.4% of adults with mental illnesses receiving treatment.

There are several factors that contribute to the access of mental healthcare. Regardless of the general availability of mental health providers, low-income individuals and individuals without health insurance are unlikely to receive mental health care. Age is another factor, stigma among the older population regarding mental illness may prevent some from seeking help. In the state of Florida, the majority of individuals in the state mental health care system are between the ages of 25 and 64. Less than 1% of the patient population is over the age of 75. Additionally, across all ages, races, and ethnicities, more women with mental illnesses use mental health care services than do men with mental illnesses.

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Scorecard Container Measure Action Actual Value Target Value Tag S A m/d/yy m/d/yyyy