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According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 30.1% of Virginia residents report experiencing poor mental health. Virginia, like many states, has a mixed record on mental health, experiencing successes in some areas and low rankings on quality care in others. Mental Health America ranks Virginia 20th overall among all states, taking into account 15 different measures of mental health. In 2006, nearly 1,000 Virginians died by suicide, and the state's public health system is able to provide care for only 19% of residents who need assistance. As in many states, funding for mental health services is low, with Virginia spending just $82 per person on services.

What Do Rehabilitation Centers in Virginia Offer?

Virginia is home to a number of quality mental health care facilities, both inpatient and outpatient. Inpatient care offers intensive, residential treatment to people who are coping with crippling stress, serious mental health issues, and substance abuse. The state offers some public hospitals, though the care at private facilities is typically more intensive and personalized. If you are interested in intensive rehab but concerned about leaving your life behind, rehab centers often offer intensive outpatient programs that allow you to attend treatment during the day, and then return home at night.

The advent of the Affordable Care Act has opened up access to mental health services for more Americans. The law, better known as Obamacare, requires insurers to cover mental health care, including inpatient treatment, when a person meets the requirements outlined by the insurer. Every facility offers something a bit different. Some are strictly utilitarian ventures, while others are luxurious resorts that offer classes, holistic treatment options, and even spiritual counseling. No matter where you go, though, you can count on getting access to therapy, formal and informal support groups, medical care, and enrichment activities. Most facilities also prohibit drugs and alcohol, offering a safe and peer pressure-free space to focus on getting better.

Mental Health Care in Virginia

According to Mental Health America's Parity or Disparity: The State of Mental Health Care in America, Virginia is better at providing care to adults than children. The organization ranks the state 14th for adult mental health care, but 26th for care to children. The state has a high need for mental health services, ranking 9th among all states, but has a low rate of access, ranking 32nd.

According to Gallup's 2013 report, State of Virginia Well-Being, Virginia has seen a marked decline in well-being since 2012. In that year, the state was ranked 12th overall, but by 2013, the state had fallen to 24th. The state ranks 32nd for emotional health, and 38th for healthy work environments.

Like many other states, Virginia relies on its criminal justice system to provide mental health care to residents who fall through the cracks. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 2,310 children were incarcerated in the state in 2006. Seventy percent of these children have mental health issues. Among adults, the numbers are similar, with 55% of male state prison inmates and 73% of female state prison inmates having at least one diagnosable mental health issue.

Virginia's Demographics

Virginia is one of the 13 original U.S. colonies, and refers to itself as a commonwealth rather than a state. It has a population of more than 8 million, and 70.8% of residents are white. Blacks make up the largest racial minority, comprising 19.7% of the population; about 6% of the population identifies as Asian, and 8.6% identify as Latino. Other races make up only a small fraction of the state's population.

The state is home to more than 725,000 veterans and 638,000 businesses. The state's rate of home ownership, percentage of foreign-born residents, and high school graduation rates are similar to national averages. College graduation, though, is more common in Virginia, with 35.2% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 28.8% nationwide.

References:

1. By the numbers: Mental illness behind bars. (2014, May 15). Retrieved from http://kaiserhealthnews.org/news/by-the-numbers-mental-illness-jail/
2. Mental Health America. (2014). Parity or disparity: The state of mental health in America, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/sites/default/files/Parity%20or%20Disparity%202015%20Report.pdf
3. Percent of adults reporting poor mental health by race/ethnicity. (2013). Retrieved from http://kff.org/other/state-indicator/poor-mental-health-by-re/
4. State of Virginia well-being [PDF]. (2013). Franklin, TN: Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
5. State Statistics: Virginia. Arlington, VA: National Alliance on Mental Illness, n.d. PDF.
6. Virginia. (2014, December 4). Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51000.html