Oklahoma City and Tulsa are two amazing cities in the United States with many qualified mental health practitioners available. Here is some background about both of these cities:
Oklahoma City
LGBTQ+ Facts
Oklahoma City is a welcoming city with vibrant culture, cuisine, and attractions. This city values its LGBTQ+ community and embraces all identities. There are also various LGBTQ+ community resources available:
PFLAG Oklahoma City
PFLAG Oklahoma City is the local chapter of the national PFLAG organization. This organization is the most well-known grassroots organization in the nation and is an excellent resource for LGBTQ+ folks and their loved ones and allies.
Diversity Center of Oklahoma
The Diversity Center of Oklahoma is an LGBTQ+ Community Center that provides services to the greater Oklahoma City area. This Center offers resources and support in various ways to all LGBTQ+ residents in Oklahoma City.
Mental Health in Oklahoma City
When coronavirus cases extended virtual learning throughout Oklahoma, mental health experts determined that adolescents and teens were experiencing higher than-average rates of depression or self-harm.
According to a September report by Mental Health America, more than half of the kids in the survey had thoughts of suicide and/or self-harm. In addition, 11 to 17-year-olds were more likely than any other age group to have symptoms of anxiety and depression during the pandemic.
These days, mental health can take its toll on children and youth in the United States. But, if you know a child suffering from mental health challenges in the Oklahoma City area, help is available. Our database at LGBTQ and All can put you in touch with a qualified mental health professional.
Top Features
Oklahoma City is the capital of Oklahoma. It is well-known for its cowboy culture. It is also famous for its capital complex, with working oil wells all around. The Oklahoma City National Memorial is a popular destination with a reflecting pool and empty glass and bronze chairs in reference to the victims of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. In addition, the Survivor Tree, an American elm almost destroyed in the attack, is part of this memorial.
Facts
Oklahoma City has long been referred to as OKC, but it also has a new nickname: The Big Friendly. This name comes from the kindness of the locals who live there.
According to many, the 104-year-old Skirvin Hotel is haunted by Effie, a housekeeper who used to work at the hotel. The legend of this story says that she jumped off the building to her death from one of the top floors. In addition, visiting NBA teams staying at the hotel, like the Thunder, and players for the Knicks, Suns, and Bulls, have complained of poor sleep, doors that slam for no apparent reason, and bathtubs that fill up with water out of nowhere.
The lead singer of the Flaming Lips, Wayne Coyne, grew up in the OKC suburbs.
History/Data
Oklahoma City came into existence in 1889. The city came about when about fifty thousand participants of the Land Run of 1889 took over town lots and quarter sections in the region then known as the Unassigned Lands. Later, it was named Oklahoma City in 1923.
Oklahoma City’s population in 2021 was an estimated 998,251 people. By comparison, in 1950, the population of Oklahoma City was 278,158 residents. Oklahoma City has grown by 9,674 since 2015, reflecting a 0.98% yearly change. These statistics and projections come from a revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
LGBTQ+ Facts
Even though Oklahoma may not be known as the most LGBTQ+-friendly state, Tulsa is much more welcoming. They have many activities for LGBTQ+ individuals to participate in, the Council Oak Gay Men’s Chorale or the Sisters in Song.
LGBTQ+ people who enjoy sports can join Tulsa Threat, a tackle football team or the Tulsa Women’s RoughNeck Roller Derby.
**Note – the gendered term “women” appears because that is what the league’s name is called.
More active options for LGBTQ+ people in Tulsa include softball, basketball, bowling, and tennis. For more information, check out the Equality Sports Alliance of Tulsa website.
Tulsa also has a parade and Pride in the Park weekend event. During this celebration, the community supports their queer locals and visitors. However, Tulsa’s Pride isn’t just a weekend-long affair; there are events throughout the year that advocate for LGBTQ+ people, fundraise, and raise awareness.
Mental Health in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Children have been experiencing poor mental health outcomes in Oklahoma during the pandemic. A report released by the Healthy Minds Policy Initiative determined that the pandemic caused a crisis in children’s mental health, showing gaps in treatment for mental health in youth and kids.
Oklahoma emergency rooms had an increase in children being admitted with suicidal thoughts. For example, at Integris Health, inpatient pediatric admissions grew by 117% due to suicide-related ER visits in 2021.
At Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa, there was an increase of 84% for behavioral health encounters at its pediatric emergency centers. Approximately 8 out of 10 admissions were for suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempts.
Top Features
Tulsa is a city in Oklahoma located on the Arkansas River. It is famous for its art deco architecture in the central Deco District. In addition, landmarks such as the Philcade and Philtower buildings showcase a 20th-century construction boom due to the prosperous oil industry. Also, visitors and residents enjoy what The Philbrook Museum of Art offers. This building is situated in an Italianate villa that used to be the home of a local oil magnate.
Facts
- Tulsa is a cosmopolitan city known for its Southern hospitality, with bustling urban districts, a world-class dining scene, and one of the country’s most extensive collections of art deco architecture.
- One unique fact about Tulsa is that it is located in the middle of the country.
- In downtown Tulsa, the Center of the Universe is made up of a circle of bricks. When you stand in the middle of this circle and make a sound, the sound will echo back even louder.
History/Data
Tulsa was first settled between 1828 and 1836 by the Lochapoka Band of Creek Native American tribe. For the bulk of the 20th century, the city was nicknamed the “Oil Capital of the World” and is a significant player in the oil industry, one of the go-to hubs for the American oil industry.
In 2021, the metro area population of Tulsa was 774,000 residents. This number is a 1.04% increase since the data recorded from 2020.
Takeaway
If you’re a mental health professional in Oklahoma City or Tulsa, consider listing your services in our directory.
