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One in five Californians say they need mental health care
Almost 5 million California adults say they could use help with a mental or emotional problem, according to a survey released Wednesday by researchers at UCLA. About 1 million of them meet the criteria for "serious psychological distress."
However, only one in three people who perceive a need for mental health services or are in serious distress have seen a professional for treatment, the survey found.
The survey was conducted among more than 44,000 adults as part of the 2005 California Health Interview Survey, administered through the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Since the survey was conducted, the recession probably has contributed to worsening mental health for even more people, said the lead author of the study, David Grant The survey showed that lack of health insurance coverage was a major reason why people didn't seek help -- a situation that may be rectified somewhat by state and national mental health parity laws now in effect that require insurers to cover mental health conditions similarly to they way they cover physical conditions. (The final phase of the federal law went into effect on July 1.) However, stigma continues to be a barrier to mental health services. The survey found that men, people 65 and older, Latinos and Asians were less likely to seek help because of the stigma associated with mental or emotional problems. But being poor is the biggest barrier to care.
According to the survey:
- Women were nearly twice as likely as men to say they needed help because they felt sad, anxious or nervous (22.7% compared to 14.3%).
- Adults under age 65 were twice as likely to perceive the need for help (20.2% compared to 9.2%).
- The poorest adults were more than five times as likely to report symptoms of serious psychological distress compared to those living well above the federal poverty level.
"The findings also demonstrate a crucial need for continued efforts to expand mental-health services and to meet threats to such services caused by the ongoing state budget crisis in Sacramento; reduced state funding for local mental health programs and public insurance programs could be devastating to hundreds of thousands of Californians with mental health needs," the authors wrote.
Mental health services always seems to be a big target when it comes to trimming state and local budgets. Lawmakers can get away with it, of course, because the stigma surrounding mental illness prevents people from protesting such cuts. Given the number of people in pain, according to this survey, it may be time for Californians to overcome the perceived stigma and demand expanded public funding and insurance coverage of mental health care.
-- Shari Roan
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I Think Many People in the US and the World are Depressed
I don't think it is just California that has an issue, but the whole fucking world..... the economy, the immigration issues, the muzzies, terrorists, war, not being able to support your family, increased crime. sickness, traffic, over-working, bankrupsty, medical bills, medications, etc. The world is a much more difficult place to live vs. 50 years ago. I really just want to win the lottery, move to Vail, Colorado or someplace peaceful, stress-free and do nothing all day long. People who live in cities don't live as long as those in the country or in a more rural environment. My grandma is nearly 100, living on a farm in the mid-west.... Me, I live in a city of 6 million people... a fucking nightmare!
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.
I think you are right
The US population is more and more upset. And I suspect this will be reflected in a huge wakeup call at the polls in November.
Only the INFERIOR study Psychology, Sociology, etc.
One cannot ever believe that the CRAZIES who play games with words to resolve issues can ever be successful with their endeavors to resolve any kinds of issues, whatsoever.
READING THE RANTS OF PSYCH MAJORS CAN DRIVE A PERSON CRAZY. BAN ALL 'OLOGIST' TO SAVE THE WORLD.
What about Psychiatrist?
I don't think the one out of five are just people going to therapy with a psychc"ologist," but, people who are going to see psychiatrists... taking meds. While I believe that many people take unnecessary meds, I truly believe that psychiatrict medicine is important. I however believe any family doctor can prescribe this stuff.... psychiatrists are bull-shit. 300.00 an hour for them to say, "here is an RX for prozac." That's it, that is all they are, drug peddlers. Now, if they were psychopharmacologists, I would have more respect for them, but nonetheless, there are people in the world with many trauma issues, psychosis, bi-polar disease, depression, alcoholism, etc., are serious issues and many times need to be treated. One cannot discount any field of medicine simply because it involves the brain, personality, etc. We value oncologists... why? All they do is give you chemo and radiation with little or no success. Is that good? A cardi"ologist" just gives you heart meds for high blood pressure, heart attacks, etc. Are they worthless?
I think mental disease carries with it a stigma, yet all other fields of medicine are okay? That is unfair.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.
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