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The last decade has proved difficult for mental health in southern California. The need for expanded mental health care services has increased, especially among young people. However, the resources and funding have failed to keep pace with this need. Mental health needs in young adults are of particular concern. Juvenile hospitalization for mental issues has increased in every county in southern California. Too often, these patients are sent to the emergency room because of a lack of resources.
The number of psychiatric beds available in the state of California decreased by more than 29 percent between 1995 and 2014. The number of mental health care facilities also fell. In the meantime, the state’s population expanded by more than 7 million. Official guidelines recommend 50 psychiatric beds per 100,000 residents. This puts California significantly behind the curve.
Orange County has kept up with its facilities for those with mental health care needs. With 482 psychiatric beds in total, it comes in third place in the entire state, behind Los Angeles and San Diego. This is very good news.
Mental health issues are common. One in five American adults lives with some form of mental illness. This might mean an anxiety or bipolar disorder, depression, or another condition. Meanwhile, one in 25 lives with a serious mental illness. This amounts to millions of people throughout the United States.
The mental health state of California’s youth is of particular concern. The rate of juveniles hospitalized for mental issues has risen 50 percent since 2007. In Orange County, the rate of hospitalizations for juveniles between the ages of 5 and 19 was 3.6 per 1,000 people. Many of these hospitalizations relate to self-harming behaviors. This rate climbed 17 percent between 2009 and 2014. Between 2009 and 2011, almost 9,000 instances of self-harm were reported among Orange County residents. On average, 278 people commit suicide in the county each year. While females are more likely to engage in self-harm, males are more likely to die by suicide.
The young people admitted to the hospital for self-harm underwent a mental health screening. Of these, 87 percent had a mental health condition. These ranged from anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression to substance abuse issues.
The rate of drug usage is a strong indicator of a county’s mental health. Substance addiction is strongly linked to suicidal and self-harming behavior. In Orange County, opioid-related emergency room admissions have jumped 141 percent since 2005. Between 2011 and 2015 alone, the county experienced 7,457 opioid-related health emergencies.
Education rates in Orange County are on par with national averages. About 38.4 percent of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Meanwhile, the rate of people living in poverty was about 11 percent. These statistics are both significant. Mental health care needs are often tied to education and income levels.
Of particular note is Orange County’s high divorce rate. While the national average is about or just under 50 percent, California’s divorce rate is 60 percent. Meanwhile, Orange County is one of the leading counties in the nation for divorce. Around 72 percent of couples in this region decide to separate. This means there is an urgent need for marital, divorce, and individual counseling.
Orange County has many mental health care resources for its residents. Some of these provide 24-hour therapy outreach, so patients can call at any time. Others provide sliding fees to accommodate differences in income, employment, or payment plans. Besides standard therapy, there are many options for marriage and substance abuse counseling. There are also therapy services designed for teens and children. This is an urgent need in southern California. Although the state has a long way to go, it is already making great strides in providing better mental health care to its residents.
Setting out on a therapy journey can be overwhelming, especially if you do not know where to start. Our directory makes it easy to find the therapist that you need. Insurance companies claim to help find local therapists. However, their help often comes with long wait times and extensive paperwork. Our services can match you with a certified counselor within a short time. Our directory has all the options you need to start your search for a counselor in Orange County. We list all the best family, marital, youth, and substance abuse counselors. You can rest easy knowing that you will be matched with a certified professional.
