Whittier, California Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Whittier, California

Just 12 miles from Los Angeles, Whittier is home to just over 87,000 people inside its 14.8 square miles. This is one of the more economically stable areas with a median household income of $73,886 as of 2016, which was higher than the state median at that time by about $6,000. Estimated median real estate values in Whittier are approximately $30,000 higher than the state median. The population of the city is predominantly Hispanic (66.3%), followed by 25% Caucasian people, and 5.4% Asian residents. The remaining individuals are from a variety of groups each representing less than 1% of the population.

Another appealing aspect of living in Whittier is the crime rate of 248.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average. Only a small percentage of crimes are violent with the vast majority being offenses against property. Jobs are plentiful, and the unemployment rate of 4.8% is lower than the state average as well. Even the weather contributes to the pleasantness of living in Whittier. Typical for this part of California, Whittier receives much less precipitation than the rest of the United States through the spring and summer months. However, even in this idyllic setting, people still need help dealing with mental health challenges and their overall emotional well-being.

Barriers to Mental Health Care in Whittier, California

Whittier is part of Service Planning Area 7 in the Community Health Needs Assessment. In this region, respondents indicated that mental health needs were significant.

• Of adults responding, 9.2% reported serious psychological distress in the last year.
• Approximately 21% indicated needing help for emotional and/or substance abuse issues in the past year. However, only 12.2% of the population received that type of help.
• Almost half of the responding population reported needing mental health and/or substance abuse services and being unable to access them.
• For teenagers responding to the survey, 18.9% reported needing help with emotional or mental health difficulties in the past year. Stress is cited as a primary cause of mental health distress among teens.
• The community includes a high percentage of foreign-born and non-English speakers. This population is more susceptible to a perceived stigma associated with seeking out help with mental health difficulties.
• Despite the increasing availability of insurance coverage for behavioral and mental health services, copays and deductibles are high and benefits are limited.

Innovation in Whittier, California

As awareness has grown about these issues, the Whittier Police Department and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) entered into an innovative partnership. Together these two agencies create the Whittier Mental Health Evaluation Team (WMHET). Officers and mental health professionals work together to handle calls involving people who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. The teams can also respond to a situation that calls for a social services intervention. Once the initial emergency has passed, the WMHET arranges for follow-up and ongoing care. Besides leading to better outcomes for consumers, this approach has led to an improved relationship between law enforcement and the provider community.