May is National Mental Health Awareness Month: Hope Counseling Center addresses urgent mental health needs in Taney and Stone counties

May marks National Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the critical importance of mental well-being in our communities. In Taney and Stone counties, mental health ranks among the top three health priorities, with recent data revealing alarming trends that demand immediate attention.

According to the 2022 Ozarks Health Commission's Regional Health Assessment, 22% of all emergency department visits in Taney and Stone counties related to an assessed health issue were due to mental health or substance use. Compounding the problem is a significant shortage of mental health professionals. The region has only 16.1 providers per 100,000 residents, 71.9% lower than Missouri's state rate of 57.2 providers per 100,000.

Hope Counseling Center, located in Branson, was founded to respond to one of the community's most pressing needs: affordable access to mental health services. The Center offers a sliding scale fee structure based on income, making therapy accessible for individuals without insurance or with limited financial means.

Hope Counseling Center has launched targeted initiatives to attract and retain new therapists to address the regional provider shortage. The Center has partnered with institutions such as Baylor University, the University of Arkansas and Evangel University, offering clinical internship opportunities that fulfill licensing requirements. Notably, two recent interns have chosen to stay and practice in the Branson area after graduation, helping to expand the local workforce.

"Mental health does not discriminate," said Kyle David, Hope Counseling Center Executive Director. "It affects the young and old, the wealthy and the poor. Chances are, someone close to you is struggling right now." 

The 2022 Health Assessment also revealed that 18.1% of the Medicare population in the region experienced depression, and the suicide mortality rate stands at 24.5 per 100,000 population, a figure 43.7% higher than the national average. Youth are particularly vulnerable. The 2024 Missouri Student Survey found that 13.4% of Taney County and 10.4% of Stone County students in grades 6–12 had “seriously considered suicide” in the past year. In response, Hope Counseling Center is preparing to add a dedicated children’s therapy program. The “Hope For Children” capital campaign is currently underway, seeking donations to fund this critical initiative with a goal of launching the program by the end of the year.

For more information or to contribute to the campaign, please visit: www.hopecounselingmo.org