Study reveals stark differences in mental well-being in Nashville zip codes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nearly one in four children in Tennessee report struggling with anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide and other common mental health problems.

It’s an issue that is affecting kids more than ever before, but some communities appear to be more vulnerable to developing mental health problems than others, according to a recent study conducted by the Belmont Data Collaborative (BDC) in partnership with NashvilleHealth and the State Collaborative On Reforming Education (SCORE).

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The methodology of the study, entitled “Connecting the Dots: Mental Health and Student Success in Tennessee,” is based on the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index, which demonstrates the potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health.

At the county level, “mental health vulnerability” in Tennessee clusters in the eastern and western parts of the state — while some of the most vulnerable counties in Middle Tennessee are rural areas in the southwestern part of the region.

However, researchers noted that county-level data can be deceptive as many highly vulnerable areas appear to be healthy because they share borders with very low risk areas. Therefore, a zip code level map offers a more detailed view of mental well-being in specific communities.

North Nashville zip code most vulnerable

In Nashville, the study illustrates stark differences between zip codes when it comes to external factors that could have detrimental effects on mental well-being.

Some of those factors include the total crime index, or exposure to violence, as well as unemployment rates, poverty levels, food insecurity, housing instability, access to healthcare, neighborhood walkability, park acres per capita and air quality.

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Among a list of 21 zip codes in the city, the 37208 zip code in North Nashville is the most vulnerable, with basic needs such as housing, food, transportation and health care being some of the top issues affecting residents in the area.

The same zip code made the top of the list in a March 2018 study by the Brookings Institution, which found the area had the highest incarceration rate in the nation at about 14%. At the time of that study, the 37208 zip code had one of the lowest income rates in Nashville.

‘There’s a history here we have to understand’

Once known for its thriving business and cultural districts, many have pointed to the late 1960s as the beginning of turbulence in the community. Thousands of residents and business owners were displaced in the later part of the decade after the state built an interstate through the middle of North Nashville.

“There’s a history here that we have to understand,” District 21 Council Member Brandon Taylor said in a previous interview. “The state came through and put an interstate through it; which one, cut off this part of town to the rest of the city; and then two, removed homes and businesses that were vibrant in this community.”

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North Nashville residents like Larry Turnley lived through the destruction, which he said can still be seen by driving down Jefferson Street.

“From the 60s, when all of that destruction took place, there was no repair,” he said. “Anytime you have buildings that are dilapidated or just torn down, then that’s going to breed crime, that’s going to breed despair. That’s just what took root in North Nashville.”

In the mental health study, the area also ranked high compared to other zip codes when it came to societal problems. That includes the total crime index, percentage of youth not enrolled in school and families below the poverty level — outside factors that researchers said can contribute to adverse childhood experiences.

How other zip codes ranked

One of the next most vulnerable zip codes in Nashville includes an area just across the river, the 37207 zip code; along with the 37210 zip code, which encompasses the Woodbine, Glencliff, Briley and Elm Hill neighborhoods in South Nashville.

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In contrast, the 37220 zip code, which encompasses the Oak Hill and Crieve Hall neighborhoods, and the 37215 zip code, including Green Hills, Forest Hills and Belle Meade, were ranked as some of the least vulnerable areas in Nashville.

Both areas have particularly low levels of unemployment and poverty and a large amount of job opportunities. Many people in those areas are also well-educated, with very few having not obtained at least a high school diploma, according to the study.

‘A catalyst to continue conversations’

In the report, researchers noted that this data is intended to start conversations and spark action related to mental illness and student success in Tennessee communities.

The findings were discussed by more than 200 community, education and mental health leaders during a recent symposium at Lipscomb University centered around exploring ways to address challenges surrounding children’s mental health.

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“We hope this research motivates stakeholders to take action to help address the crisis around mental health and student success in Tennessee, and that it is a catalyst to continue conversations that lead to lasting change for our state and for our young people,” said Catherine Bass, director of the Belmont Data Collaborative.

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