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An Overview of Mental Health in Arcadia, California

Arcadia, California, is located in Los Angeles County, approximately 13 miles northeast of downtown LA. The city of 57,799 residents sits in the San Gabriel Valley at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. It is home to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden and the Santa Anita Park racetrack. Arcadia is a scenic city that is close to all things desirable, such as LA, the beach and nature trails.

Arcadia at a Glance

Arcadia isn’t just a beautiful place to live. It is also a prosperous place to live. The median household income in the area is $90,666, which is substantially more than both the state and national medians. The poverty rate is just 8.8 percent, which is five percent lower than the state’s poverty rate and four percent lower than the nation’s rate. The median home value is $920,700. Property taxes average out at more than $3,000 each year.

Gender wage inequality is prominent in Arcadia. Males earn an average of $76,621, while women in the same roles and with the same level of training, education and experience earn just $59,773. Females make up the largest poverty group, with more women between the ages of 45 and 54 living in poverty than any other group.

The cost of living in Arcadia is high. According to AreaVibes, its COL index is 197. The state’s index is just 138, which is high compared to the nation’s but low compared to this LA county’s index. The housing index is an outstanding 395.

Los Angeles County has the second highest rates of HIV diagnoses of any other county in the state, with San Francisco being the first. 556.4 individuals per 100,000 live with the diagnosis.

The majority of residents in Arcadia are Asian. Asians account for 58.9 percent of the population. Whites account for 23.5 percent of the population and Hispanics account for 12.1 percent. Chinese is the most common language spoken in the area.

How Demographics May Impact Mental Health of Arcadia Residents

Los Angeles County, like other counties throughout the nation, is experiencing a decline in mental health. According to one resource, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder are all very real issues that the county is trying to combat. Though genetics certainly play a role in a person’s mental wellbeing, outside factors can perpetuate or trigger illness. Several of the factors mentioned in the section above may contribute to the declining state of mental health of Arcadia Residents:

• High Cost of Living: High cost of living is probably the number one factor that contributes to mental disturbances. Many LA residents experience financial concerns with which others throughout the state and nation do not have to deal. These financial concerns can lead to stress, anxiety and depression.
• Wealth: Wealth is not always a good thing. Wealth is associated with narcissism, depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder and mania. Moreover, individuals who focus too much on attaining wealth and power tend to have weak relationships with friends, family, spouses and children.
• Gender Pay Gap: Studies show that the gender pay gap contributes to increased rates of anxiety and depression in women. Women who work with males are 2.5 times more likely to experience anxiety and 1.96 times higher to live with depression than their male counterparts.
• HIV Diagnoses: Those who live with an HIV diagnosis likely live in constant states of fear, anxiety, worry and depression.
• Ethnicity: The majority of Arcadia’s population is Asian. While the mental health stigma is strong just about anywhere, it’s even stronger in the Asian-American For this reason, less Asian-Americans who live with a mental disorder fail to seek treatment. In fact, Asian-Americans are three times less likely to seek treatment than White Americans. This fact leads to worsening conditions and even suicide.

Availability of Mental Health Care Services in California

California is not the most-friendly city in terms of mental health care, but it’s also not the worst. The state, like all others across the nation, is trying to combat the mental health crisis by putting more facilities and therapists in areas that need them the most, such as Los Angeles County. If you live with mental illness, or if you suspect that a loved one does, don’t be afraid to find the help you need. E-Counseling’s directory makes finding that care easy and discreet. Simply type in your zip code and get a list of dozens of compassionate therapists near you.