Life can throw curveballs no matter where you live, leading to challenges such as anxiety, depression, and more. In addition, mental health has a genetic component, which may contribute to roadblocks such as OCD. Trauma, either past or present, similarly influences people, and Maryland therapists often see a combination of these and other challenges during daily practice.
However, the good news is that mental healthcare is increasingly becoming a priority for our community. If you are considering trying therapy yourself, it might be helpful to learn more about the most common mental health concerns we see in Maryland. Even if you are attempting to address something not on this list, rest assured that Maryland therapists have the experience to help.
Mental Health Trends in Maryland
Maryland is a busy place, with its proximity to the nation’s capital and its population density in some areas, stress tends to remain high for many. The pressures of work, family commitments, and other responsibilities can leave little time for self-care and may prompt symptoms of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has found that about one in five adults experiences a mental illness each year. When looking at a narrower timeline, around 13% of adults report depressive symptoms within the past two weeks, which is slightly higher than the national average.
Young adults are especially affected. As many as 39% of high school students report persistent sadness or hopelessness, and about 20% have seriously considered suicide. Within Maryland specifically, the state welcomes a very high population of government workers. As a result, therapists have noted that this subgroup has been seeking therapy more often.
The Top Five Most Common Mental Health Concerns in Maryland
While every person’s experience is different, many Maryland residents share some facets of mental health challenges. The most common difficulties that people seek the help of a therapist for are:
Anxiety and Depressive Disorders
A combination of comorbid anxiety and depression is the most common mental health condition affecting people who live in Maryland. Studies show that about 27% of Maryland adults report both of these symptoms concurrently at some point during the year.
Major Depressive Episodes in Young People
Children and teens are at particular risk when it comes to mental health. As mentioned previously, persistent depression is a challenge for students, with around a third in middle or high school reporting sadness or hopelessness occurring every day for two or more weeks. This accounts for a loss in productivity of around 20%, according to studies.
Thoughts of Self-Harm
In correlation with rising rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health roadblocks, studies are noting a parallel increase in suicidal ideation, especially in youth. When polled about this concept, 81% of Maryland residents noted that, given the exposure to such developments in their own lives (e.g., a suicide affecting their family), they consider suicidal ideation to be a problem the state should pay attention to.
Co-Occurring Disorders
In many cases, mental health struggles such as depression and anxiety do not occur in a vacuum. As many as 6.9% of adults and 3.3% of youth experience difficulties with substance use, often in parallel to other mental health challenges in a repeating cycle.8 Because these behaviors can feed into each other, seeking mental healthcare is a powerful option for change.
Trauma and Childhood Adversity
The rate of trauma is rising in Maryland, and as youth take this latent trauma into adulthood (or continue to experience it throughout life), their mental health can pay the price. In Baltimore, for example, approximately 31% of adults report three or more ACEs (adverse childhood experiences). These may continue to affect a person years after the event, but therapy can be the first step toward addressing them.
Additional Barriers to Mental Healthcare
While these five mental health concerns top the charts in Maryland, people may experience a broad range of difficulties. In addition to the mental health situation itself, some people are affected by additional challenges.
Access
Mental healthcare is not always accessible to the people who need it. For instance, people in Maryland are more than 20 times more likely to visit a mental health professional outside their healthcare network due to access issues. This ranks it as among the worst in the nation for accessibility.
Stigma
Additionally, many people choose not to pursue help in therapy because of the stigma surrounding it. It is essential to understand that seeking therapy does not mean you are broken. It means you are paying attention to your own wellness, in the same way that going to a doctor, eating well, and exercising support your physical health. Do not hesitate to reach out for mental health, either in person or through telehealth.
Get the Mental Health Support You Need
Whether you are considering your own mental wellness for the first time or you are ready to commit to therapy after years, you are welcome at Village Counseling. Our therapists can create a personalized strategy that addresses your specific needs, goals, and roadblocks. Contact Village Counseling to schedule an appointment!