An Overview of Mental Health Resources in Lake Forest, California
Nestled in the center of Orange County, Lake Forest, California is only a short to drive to many popular attractions including Laguna Beach and Disneyland Park in Anaheim. Lake Forest was only recently incorporated in 1991, but was previously known as the El Toro area. Before the city was even officially established, it was deigned to be beautiful recreational area with a planted forest of Eucalyptus trees and two manmade lakes surrounded by residential areas.
Lake Forest is home to 84,293 residents, 67.4 percent which are white, 24.5 percent which are Hispanic, and 15.7 percent Asian. This culturally diverse city boasts many great statistics. The median household income is $96,963 and only 7.4 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. In 2017, Lake Forest made it the list of the Top 25 Safest Cities in California and has had only one reported homicide in the last five years. There are wide variety of industries and professions that employ residents within the city including retail, manufacturing, health care, technology, and research facilities. The city’s top employers include Oakley, Panasonic Avionics, and LoanDepot.
Although Lake Forest is doing well in many aspects, the city is not immune to the many mental health issues that make life difficult for residents in Orange County and the entire state of California. In fact, 7.3 percent of children have a serious emotional disorder and 3.7 percent of adults have a serious mental illness in Orange County alone. Lake Forest’s residents are in need of mental health assistance so they can learn to cope with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, PTSD, personality disorders, and substance abuse disorders. Our goal is to make you aware of the mental health situation in Lake Forest, California and help you or your loved one get connected with the resources they need.
Divorce Rates in Lake Forest
Lake Forest, California has a large number of married people with 55.8 percent of the population being married. The rate of divorced adults in the city is relatively low at 9.3 percent. There is an apparent disparity in marriage and divorce rates amongst different races living in Lake Forest. Asians report the highest married population at 65.6 percent. In contrast, Indians has a much lower marriage rate at 23.5 percent. Among people who identify as a single race, Hispanics have the lowest divorce rate at 5.3 percent, while 21.1 percent of Hawaiians in the state are divorced.
Divorce rates can help identify the prevalence of mental health issues in an area since studies have found a positive correlation between mental disorders and divorce. Couples who are experiencing issues in their marriage can benefit greatly from marriage counseling, especially if mental health is a concern for one or both individuals. Also, divorce can be very emotionally tolling on an individual and can contribute to mental health issues. Finding a counselor after a divorce can help you cope and learn how to move onward.
The Challenge Finding a Suitable Therapist in Lake Forest
Although California’s population has grown immensely in the last 20 years, the number of available facilities and beds in place for psychiatric care have only decreased. This is especially troubling since the prevalence of mental illness within the state has continued to rise, and 1 in 6 Californians having a mental health need. This is also true of youths, with every Southern California county reporting increasing rates of children and adolescents under the age of 18 needing to be hospitalized for a mental health concern. However, with a 29.6 percent reduction in the availability of psychiatric beds in California from 1995 to 2014, it is clear the state is not adequately meeting the needs of its mentally ill residents.
Due to varying factors, a concerning number of Americans with mental illnesses do not receive the help they need to better their lives. In 2016, only 43.1 percent of adults with a reported mental illness received any treatment. Unfortunately, 9.4 percent of residents living in Lake Forest under the age of 65 don’t have health insurance which can prevent them from getting the care they need.
Fortunately, if you are experiencing a mental health issue, you don’t need to suffer in silence. E-Counseling provides a therapist directory that will assist you getting in touch with a therapist in your area.
