An Overview of Mental Health in Milpitas, California
Milpitas, California is located in Santa Clara County, with Fremont to the north and San Jose to the south. It is considered part of Silicon Valley and the South Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of 2017, the population was 78,106.
Milpitas ranks first out of cities in America that have the largest percentage of people working in the computer and electronics industry. Many large companies have offices and headquarters in the city, including Cisco, Linear Technology, Flex, and Sandisk. The unemployment rate in Milpitas is 2.4 percent, well under the national average of 3.9 percent. Similarly, only 8.4 percent of Milpitas residents live in poverty, compared to 12.3 percent nationally.
While Milpitas has a generally positive outlook, there are many behavioral and mental health concerns among residents. It’s helpful to analyze the data about mental health in Milpitas and determine the resources available to those in distress.
Mental Health Statistics in Milpitas, California
These statistics provide a glimpse into the mental health struggles of Milpitas residents:
- 11 percent of adults have struggled with frequent mental distress
- 8 percent of adults have been diagnosed with depression
- 3 percent of adults engaged in recent binge drinking
- 38 percent of adults say that local violence, drug activity, and crime is a serious concern
These numbers from the Milpitas City Profile are just the beginning.
Suicide Rate in Milpitas, California
Sadly, 45 Milpitas residents committed suicide from 2007 to 2016. During some of these years, more residents died by suicide than by motor vehicle accidents. The severity of suicide is not only felt in Milpitas but across the nation. In fact, suicide is the tenth most common cause of death across America, resulting in 45,000 deaths each year.
Behavioral Health in Santa Clara County
In order to further understand the issues facing Milpitas, it’s important to look at the countywide data. According to a survey from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, here are the most common stressors that respondents experienced in the last year:
- Anxiety: 53 percent
- Depression: 23 percent
- Chronic pain: 17 percent
- Death of a loved one: 17 percent
- Loss of a job: 12 percent
- Divorce/breakup: 10 percent
All of these are examples of or contributing factors to the widespread serious mental illnesses in the area.
Substance Use in Santa Clara County
Substance use and mental illnesses often correlate. Therefore, it is necessary to look at the patterns of substance use in Milpitas and the surrounding areas:
- 86 percent of residents report substance use at some point
- 67 percent of residents consumed alcoholic beverages in the past month
- 22 percent of residents stopped alcohol consumption due to it negatively impacting their lives
- 22 percent of residents report misusing or abusing prescription drugs.
- 16 percent of residents report using cocaine at some point
- 10 percent of residents report using methamphetamine at some point
- 5 percent of residents report using heroin at some point
With so many residents using, becoming dependent on or developing an addiction to substances, it may not be much of a surprise that mental illness is a problem.
The Trouble of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Milpitas, California
Unfortunately, too many people do not receive mental health services. Stigma and unawareness are major factors that contribute to a lack of mental health treatment. The way we house and prosecute mentally ill individuals in Santa Clara County is often counterproductive and ineffective.
Mental Health Resources in Milpitas, California
Even with the behavioral and health issues facing Milpitas residents, there is some good news to celebrate. There are 282 mental health providers per 100,000 residents. The Milpitas City Council passed a suicide prevention policy in 2018 that implements a variety of resources, including a task force, mental health screenings, grief support, and first aid classes. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has committed $600,000 to create a youth mental health center. There are also many services offered by the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services, including mental health treatment, substance use treatment, and a 24/7 suicide hotline.
