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For many, the beautiful Orange County city of Costa Mesa, California is the west coast dream. According to 2017 statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 113,000 people are living in the city, with more moving in every day. Looking at the area, it is not hard to see why people are clammering to get a place to live there. Amenities, such as grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants are abundant and easy to access. Costa Mesa also is not as developed as other nearby cities, allowing it to serve as a good balance between urban and suburban life.
The most common primary motivation behind people’s decision to move has to do with money. Specifically, a job opportunity. A rise in pay or a new job altogether tends to be why people move houses. Costa Mesa, California is no different in that regard. The economy is largely based on retail and manufacturing. However, not everyone willing to participate in the workforce is able to find decent-paying employment. Plenty of Costa Mesa residents are living paycheck to paycheck earning wages below what the typical American worker gets paid. Those that are able to find a job are not always able to maintain it – especially with layoffs happening every so often.
Costa Mesa’s sub-par economy is a significant contributing factor towards another complex issue. Experts are saying Costa Mesa in addition to the rest of the United States is going through a “mental health crisis.” Let’s go over, in detail, what that means, what is influencing Costa Mesa’s state of mental health, and what you can do to get in contact with a licensed therapist who can help if you are in need.
Chances are, there is someone in your life who is dealing with a mental health condition. Some people are surprised to learn of America’s pressing mental illness problem. A particularly alarming study published by Johns Hopkins Medicine estimates 26 percent of Americans will suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder at some point during any given year. Narrowing the scope of the statistics fails to yield more hopeful results. As per a 2017 report from Mental Health America, the state of California ranks amongst the top 50 percent of states regarding the prevalence of mental illness and the lack of access to mental health care. So, why is Costa Mesa’s situation so problematic, specifically?
Firstly, Costa Mesa has a major crime problem. In particular, crimes relating to theft are the most prolific. According to statistics sourced from the FBI, the overall crime rate in the city of Costa Mesa, California is 56 percent higher than the national average. Unfortunately, the relationship between crime and mental health is quite significant. Areas that see higher rates of crime see a worsened state of mental health. Costa Mesa is not an exception. As police and local officials look into ways to fight against crime in the city, the mental health of those who live there degenerates.
Costa Mesa’s education system is not exactly stellar, either. As per statistics from local school districts, the average test score of a Costa Mesa student is approximately 11 percent lower than the average American student. It is no secret that the quality of education one receives plays an important role in that person’s mental health. Research tells us students who get a subpar education are more likely to suffer from a mental disorder in the future.
The high divorce rate of California is also likely playing a role in the community’s mental health. Sitting at the highest in the nation, roughly 60 percent of Californian marriages end in divorce. Statistically speaking, everyone involved in divorce becomes susceptible to future mental health problems, including children. If you feel your relationship is in jeopardy, experts recommend counseling before making any permanent decisions.
A harsh reality is that many Americans are finding it troublesome to reach out to a therapist who can help. An especially revealing study from the National Institute of Mental Health suggests a clear majority of mentally ill Americans receive no treatment during any given year, regardless of the necessity to do so. Experts are partly blaming the nationwide shortage of mental health professionals as the reason why so little mental health care is given to people.
In the case of Costa Mesa, specifically, people are pointing fingers at ineffective public policy, poverty, and stigma surrounding mental illness. As per the U.S. Census Bureau, a resident of Costa Mesa is more than two times as likely to live without any health insurance relative to the rest of the nation. A good chunk of people who have no insurance is also low-income earners. For them, the out-of-pocket expense of counseling simply is not an option.
Thanks to attention from state and federal entities, the government is attempting to address the mental health situation in Costa Mesa. More funds are being directed towards combatting mental illness, allowing for the creation of organizations who focus on providing mental health care for those in need. The Mental Health Association is a local clinic specializing in treating mental illness. South Coast Behavioral Health is another mental health clinic servicing the community in a similar capacity.
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