In 38 Years, Samaritan has Never Seen Anything Like this

In the 38 years that Samaritan has been providing services, we have never seen anything like this. Loneliness, anxiety, and depression have never plagued us more than they do now. The number of people suffering grows year over year and as this need grows so does the demand for providers. Nationally, reports show there is 1 provider available for every 350 people in need of services. The implication is frightening.

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While the issues are being talked about on all sides of the fence, few solutions are being offered. The good news is most are aware and interested in improving mental health. The bad news: there are simply not enough providers!

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The statistics are sobering - here are just a few:

• 35% of young adults are dealing with depression
• 18% of people who have had COVID will develop a mental health diagnosis
• Postpartum depression occurs in 1 out of 9 women.
• About 136 people died from suicide every day in the last year
• 10% of teens report using substances to cope with depression, trauma, or anxiety
• 42% of adults with a diagnosable mental health condition reported that they could not afford to access the treatment they needed

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For us, these statistics help explain the many calls we receive pleading for a therapist who can see them in less than a few months (the national average wait time is a month and a half for basic care, with specialized care stretching into multiple months).

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We need your help to increase our capacity. We would like to raise enough money to pay two new therapists so that we can better meet the tremendous need in our community.

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We know that as loyal supporters of Samaritan, you receive multiple requests for donations from many wonderful organizations, and we are grateful for the time you took to read ours. Please consider partnering with usto add providers to help meet the growing mental health care needs of our community.

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With Gratitude,

David Olsen, PhD, LCSW, LMFT

Executive Director

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To donate, please go back to the homepage of our website and look for the "donate" button at the top of the page. You may also donate via PayPal or by simply mailing a check to:

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Samaritan Counseling Center

220 N Ballston Ave

Scotia NY 12302

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As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, we rely on private donations and grants to make counseling more affordable and accessible to the communities we serve. All monies received are used to subsidize fees for those who do not have adequate means to cover the cost of therapy.