Mental illness cases have risen in California, while treatment and funding have not kept up.

Every Southern California county has experienced an upward trend in the rate at which children under 18 years are hospitalized for a mental health issue.

“The mental health system has been plagued by gaps in services, access and funding,” says Dr. Dr. Clayton with St. Joseph Hoag Health. “People with severe mental health and substance abuse conditions struggle to receive needed care in their communities due to stigma and difficulty navigating a complicated system.

“Often, patients with severe mental illness and substance use disorders end up in hospital emergency rooms because they have nowhere else to go.”

Since 1995, California’s population has increased by more than 7 million people, but the facilities and beds for acute psychiatric care have decreased.

Prevalence in the U.S.

43.8 million adults experience mental illness in a given year.

Mental distress by county

The map below presents estimates of the number of those who report frequent mental distress (14 to 30 mentally unhealthy days in the past 30 days). Figures are the most recent available, aggregated over 2003-2009.

Aside from substance abuse conditions – alcohol abuse is the most common of those – the top five mental health ailments are:

Anxiety disorders

Depression

Eating disorders

Autistic spectrum disorders

Alzheimer’s

Facts and myths



Dr. Chau on myths and facts related to mental health:

Myth: Mental health problems don’t affect me.

Fact: Mental health problems are actually very common. One in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression in 2014. Suicide accounts for the loss of more than 41,000 American lives each year, more than double the number of lives lost to homicides.



Myth: People with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable.

Fact: Most people with mental illness are not violent and only 3 percent to 5 percent of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population.

Myth: Personality weakness or character flaws cause mental health problems. People with mental health problems can snap out of it if they try hard enough.

Fact: Mental health problems have nothing to do with being lazy or weak and many people need help to get better. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:

Biological factors, such as genes, physical illness, injury, or brain chemistry

Life experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse

Family history of mental health problems

Myth: There is no hope for people with mental health problems. Once a friend or family member develops mental health problems, he or she will never recover.

Fact: Studies show that people with mental health problems get better and many recover completely. Recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live, work, learn and participate fully in their communities. There are more treatments, services and community support systems than ever before, and they work. In fact, we believe that prevention works, treatment is effective and people do recover.



Myth: I can’t do anything for a person with a mental health problem.

Fact: Friends and loved ones can make a big difference. Only 44 percent of adults with diagnosable mental health problems and less than 20 percent of children and adolescents receive needed treatment. Friends and family can be important influences to help someone get the treatment and services they need by:

Reaching out and letting them know you are available to help

Helping them access mental health services

Learning and sharing the facts about mental health, especially if you hear something that isn’t true

Treating them with respect, just as you would anyone else

Refusing to define them by their diagnosis or using labels such as crazy

Where to get help:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

Alcohol Hotline Support & Information: 800-331-2900

Grief Recovery Helpline: 800-445-4808

SOS Teen Hotline: 800-949-0057

National Youth Crisis Hotline: 800-448-4663

Orange County Crisis Hotline: 877-727-4747

Promisetotalk.org

Sources: Dr. Clayton Chau, regional executive medical director of St. Joseph Hoag Health’s Institute for Mental Health & Wellness; Mentalhealth.gov; HealthyPlace.com; Orange County Community Indicators Project, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Alliance on Mental Illness, California Hospital Association