Worcester Mental Health Facts
If you suffer from anxiety or depression, you’re not alone in Worcester. In fact, 30.8% of adults in Massachusetts reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorders in 2023.- The self-harm mortality rate for men in Worcester is significantly higher than for women, 6.2 per every 100,000 residents compared to 20.8 for men. Both these rates are under the national average, though
- Men in Worcester also have a higher incidence of substance abuse rates compared to women, 26.1 per 100,000 compared to 8.9 per 100,000. Substance use disorder includes both drug and alcohol addictions. If you’re concerned about your consumption or worried about a loved one, you can reach out to the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) to find addiction treatment resources near you
- Drug overdose is a growing concern in Massachusetts, with an overdose death increase from a little over 10% in 2011 to a whopping 36.8%, higher than the U.S. average in 2023.
- One million one hundred fifteen thousand adults in Massachusetts have a mental health condition. To put this in perspective, this is roughly six times the population of Worcester!
- Many people may be unable to get the mental health help they need because they fear the cost will be too high. Of the more than 360,000 adults in Massachusetts who didn’t receive mental health care but needed it, 305 didn’t because the cost was a barrier to treatment. One of the services MHH offers is connecting you with affordable help treatment for your concerns
- Almost 22% of adults in Massachusetts who reported symptoms of anxiety or depression were unable to get counseling or therapy.
Local Mental Health Assistance in Worcester
You’ve made the decision to seek help – and that’s more than a lot of people do! But, it can be hard to know where to start. Do you need a diagnosis? Are you looking for a therapist? Maybe you need a counselor to give you options for the issues you’re struggling with today.
These local resources can help you get started on your journey to wellness:
Worcester County Health Department – Mental Health Resources.
Worcester County’s mental health outreach program provides several services for mental health and addiction recovery. Some programs, open to members of the community include:
- Outpatient Counseling for mood disorders and several diagnosed mental illnesses
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP) for adults, children, and seniors who are receiving mental health services
- Crisis Response Team (CRT) with responders available 24 hours a day for people in acute mental health crises. On-scene emergency mental health and addiction assessments are available in crisis response situations with immediate triage treatment available
- Survivors of Suicide Support Group, group therapy for people who have lost a loved one to suicide
- Childhood intervention programs
UMass Memorial Health Community Healthlink
Offers programs for children and adults to address mental health concerns. Programs are available for mental health, substance use, and homelessness. Programs include group and individual addiction counseling and recovery, help to find a mental health treatment provider and assistance with finding support services to meet each person’s unique needs.
- Project W.O.R.T.H. (Working On Reclaiming Their Health): care and support for survivors of sexual abuse and trauma
- BUDD Day Program: supports people who have intellectual disabilities and behavioral concerns. The program is open to adults 18 and older, with a mission to provide each participant with the tools they need to live as independently as possible
You Are Not Alone. Help is Available 24 Hours a Day
When you call one of these support networks, you’ll be connected with a compassionate counselor to help you find the right support. Do you need help finding an in-network Worcester psychiatrist? Or, do you need specific group support, like a grief support group Worcester, MA? Helpline counselors connect you with programs that are right for your needs.