DSHS Clients with Mental Health or Substance Abuse Problems and Proximity to Treatment Providers

The maps of DSHS clients with mental health or substance abuse problems were prepared to assist the Snohomish county human services planners to evaluate unmet service needs. The maps and analysis address the question: Are there geographic barriers to clients who need treatment for mental health or substance abuse problems? Overall, mental health or substance abuse treatment providers are located near areas with the highest concentration (density) of clients with mental health or substance abuse problems. Among clients residing in close proximity to treatment providers, relatively fewer clients have unmet treatment needs. However, as the distance to treatment providers increases, the share of clients with unmet needs grows relatively to the share of clients receiving treatment. Communities located at significant distances from providers (10 to 50 miles) carry a double burden: they have a higher share of residents who have mental health or substance abuse problems and these residents need to travel longer distances to access treatment.