Overview of Mental Health Resources in Garden Grove, California
Garden Grove is an ironic city. It is located in middle-upper class Orange County, but it suffers from a very high poverty rate. There is a great difference between those doing well in Garden Grove and those suffering financially.
The average property value in Garden Grove is close to half a million dollars. However, the poverty level is over 16%. With a median income of over $60,000, there should not be so much poverty.
Financial depression is a common cause of mental health issues. In fact, the county has such a problem with mental illness that they adopted a law that forces people to seek mental health treatment.
Mental Health Statistics for Garden Grove, California
Despite the apparent sunny disposition of your average person in Orange County, there are a significant number of people in Garden Grove who suffer from serious mental health issues. One of the problems is that although a person is able to get diagnosed with their mental health disorder, they don’t receive the follow up care they need. They end up not taking their medications which causes even more severe mental issues.
Nearly 1 in 6 people in California are suffering from a mental health issue. 1 in 20 suffer from a serious mental illness. Garden Grove is obviously concerned with the growing concern with mental health illness in their state. They passed Laura’s Law which forces people diagnosed with a mental illness to received treatment whether they want it or not.
Impact of Not Receiving Treatment in Garden Grove
There are only about 175,000 people in Garden Grove. The ratio of mental health professionals is quite high at 212 for every 100,000 people. In fact, there are four times as many mental health professionals in Garden Grove as there are dentists! The problem is not diagnosis. The problem is continued treatment and follow up care. This is the problem Orange County is trying to combat with their recent laws.
A lack of mental health resources can lead to:
- Suicide
- Divorce
- Homelessness
- Unemployment
- Cyclical poverty
- Substance abuse
If people in Garden Grove had access to ongoing mental health information and resources, perhaps they would be treated beyond the point of diagnosis. This is where E-counseling comes into play. They seek to provide a one-stop mental health resource for people in all major cities in the United States.
What Makes Garden Grove Unique When It Comes to Mental Health?
The socio-economic makeup of Garden Grove is strange. It has some of the wealthiest and poorest people in California. This can lead to serious disparities in quality mental health. Some other factors that impact mental health are:
- Culture: Most people in Garden Grove are young. More than half the population is under 34 years old. People in this age bracket typically don’t seek out mental health resources until their mental health issues have become quite severe.
- Economic: The disparity between homeowners and renters in Garden Grove is large. With a median income of over $60,000 and a poverty level close to 17%, there is a large gap between the two groups.
- Climate: Garden Grove is in a very mild climate. They don’t experience the seasonality of the Northeast, nor do they suffer from the sub-tropical weather of Texas or Florida. Although it would appear that having sunshine all the time is great, a lack of change in climate can be unhealthy as well.
Divorce Rate in Garden Grove
The divorce rate in Garden Grove seems low at just 6.8%. However, over 40% of the population has never been married. This shows a fear of marriage from the younger generations. Perhaps if there were more mental health resources, specifically couples’ counseling, people wouldn’t be so afraid to get married.
With mostly younger people moving into the area, it’s important for the institution of marriage that people feel more comfortable entering marriage.
Mental Health Resources in Garden Grove, California
The problem with mental illness in Orange County has gotten so serious, the county is now mandating mental health treatment for its citizens. They are 1 of only 2 counties in California who have embraced such legislation.
There are about 375 mental health professionals in Garden Grove. As mentioned above, however, the issue is not always about the number of professionals – it is a matter of follow up. People without insurance coverage simply will not or cannot get the follow up care they need.
E-Counseling Solves the Challenge of Finding a Therapist in Garden Grove, California
E-Counseling believes that everybody deserves good mental health treatment. People in Garden Grove lack the information and resources needed to secure long-term mental health treatment. It is important that E-counseling provide this much needed information. See our directory to find a local mental health professional.
