When
people think of chronic health conditions, they often think of
diabetes or heart disease. But alongside these issues, mental health
disorders are among the most common chronic illnesses that people
face. In California, nearly one in six adults experiences a mental
illness of some kind in any given year. One in 24 has a serious
mental illness resulting in impairment that limits daily life
activities. Children and teenagers also experience mental health
disorders at high rates: One in 13 has an emotional disturbance that
limits participation in regular activities. While mental illnesses
can generally be managed successfully, too many people — almost two
in three Californians — miss out on treatment.
Using the most recent data available, Mental
Health in California: For Too Many, Care Not There provides
an overview of mental health in California, including disease
prevalence, suicide rates, supply and use of treatment providers, and
mental health in the correctional system. The report also highlights
data on quality of care and mental health care spending.
Key findings include:
·
The prevalence of serious mental illness varied by
income, with much higher rates of mental illness at lower income
levels for both children and adults.
·
Compared to the US, California had a lower rate of
suicide, although it varied considerably within the state by gender,
age, race/ethnicity, and region. Notably, the Northern and Sierra
region had a suicide rate almost triple that of Los Angeles County.
·
About two-thirds of adults with a mental illness and
two-thirds of adolescents with major depressive episodes did not get
treatment.
·
Medi-Cal pays for a significant portion of mental
health treatment in California. The number of adults receiving
specialty mental health services through Medi-Cal increased by nearly
50% between 2012 and 2015, coinciding with an expansion of Medi-Cal
eligibility.
·
The supply of acute psychiatric beds may have
stabilized after a long period of decline. However, emergency
department visits resulting in an inpatient psychiatric admission
increased by 30% between 2010 and 2015.
·
The incidence of mental illnesses in California’s
jails and prisons is very high. In 2015, 38% of female prison inmates
and 23% of the male prison population received mental health
treatment while incarcerated.
Access the full report, a quick reference guide, and an infographic on
our website. These materials are part of CHCF’s
California Health Care Almanac, a resource for key data and
analyses describing our state’s health care landscape.
If you are a journalist seeking an interview, please contact Lisa
Aliferis, senior communications officer, at laliferis@chcf.org or (510)
587-3159.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment