Frontiers in public health · 2025
Addressing mental health deserts: a geographic and economic analysis of mental health service gaps in Houston.
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Kelly Damien, Carmack Chakema
Аннотация
INTRODUCTION: The increasing prevalence of mental health challenges in the United States, particularly among low-income communities, has highlighted significant disparities in access to mental health services. This study investigated the concept of "mental health deserts," areas with insufficient mental health care providers, in the city of Houston, Texas. By utilizing the Distressed Community Index (DCI) to identify economically disadvantaged areas and sampling Psychology Today's database of over 3,000 licensed therapists in the Houston area to map mental health service availability, this research aimed to determine the existence and extent of mental health deserts in Houston.
METHODS: The study employed a food desert model as a conceptual framework, comparing the availability of mental health services in economically deprived areas. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the relationship between DCI scores and the number of mental health professionals, types of mental health service professionals, and the education level of providers among N = 96 zip codes and 395 therapists in the city of Houston.
RESULTS: Results showed that certain low-income areas in Houston, particularly those with higher DCI scores (i.e., more distressed), lack adequate mental health resources, possibly qualifying them as mental health deserts.
DISCUSSION: These areas demonstrate a significant need for targeted interventions at multiple levels to improve access to mental health care. Implications to inform policymakers and healthcare providers about the critical need for mental health infrastructure in economically distressed communities are discussed. By identifying and addressing these gaps, this research aims to contribute to the broader effort of reducing mental health disparities and promoting wellness among underserved populations. The present study is a preliminary examination and meant to initiate more research on mental health deserts in areas with significant need for awareness, intervention, and policy attention.
METHODS: The study employed a food desert model as a conceptual framework, comparing the availability of mental health services in economically deprived areas. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the relationship between DCI scores and the number of mental health professionals, types of mental health service professionals, and the education level of providers among N = 96 zip codes and 395 therapists in the city of Houston.
RESULTS: Results showed that certain low-income areas in Houston, particularly those with higher DCI scores (i.e., more distressed), lack adequate mental health resources, possibly qualifying them as mental health deserts.
DISCUSSION: These areas demonstrate a significant need for targeted interventions at multiple levels to improve access to mental health care. Implications to inform policymakers and healthcare providers about the critical need for mental health infrastructure in economically distressed communities are discussed. By identifying and addressing these gaps, this research aims to contribute to the broader effort of reducing mental health disparities and promoting wellness among underserved populations. The present study is a preliminary examination and meant to initiate more research on mental health deserts in areas with significant need for awareness, intervention, and policy attention.