A recent study found alarming rates of mental health challenges among young people in California.
The California Endowment surveyed nearly 800 Californians ages 18 to 24 and found that over 75% reported experiencing anxiety in the past year. More than half reported depression and 31% experienced suicidal thoughts.
The survey also showed that young adults are facing significant barriers to getting help, saying cost or access stopped them.
CA Youth Mental Health Survey 092622
A recent study conducted by the California Endowment found alarming rates of mental health challenges among young people in California.
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Dr. Willough Jenkins, medical director of the Psychiatric Consultation and Emergency Liaison Service at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, said KPBS mental health issues for young people were already on an exponential rise before the pandemic.
“What happened is that the factors related to the pandemic exacerbated the problem that already existed. The pandemic brought all the stresses of isolation, the disruption of school, the effects of social isolation on the family,” she said. “But the other part that came along with the pandemic, which is affecting older teenagers in particular, are issues related to racial injustice, all the political tensions. And then there was a lot of emphasis on climate change.”
Dr. Jenkins said Californians are also facing other pressures. “Being in California is tough in some ways. The cost of living is high and many families are struggling to make ends meet. That means families are probably working more than one job or odd hours, and that means they’ll have less time to spend with their kids, potentially. And so that’s going to have that effect on kids and families.”
Growing mental health concerns are prompting some schools to be proactive.
The Escondido Union High School District has been offering high school students mental health support since March. Now, a new mobile resource is allowing them to expand behavioral support.
“There are many visible and invisible barriers that prevent people from receiving service,” said Wendi Vierra, director of behavioral health operations at Neighborhood Healthcare. “One of the things we want to do with this clinic is improve health equity. We need to provide services to them to reduce barriers to access like transportation, finances, being able to take time off work.”
Behavioral Health Care will provide licensed counseling therapists, with the full support of the Department of Behavioral Health.
“Everything has escalated. We have children with a lot of trauma, a lot of abuse, bullying… tremendous anxiety and depression,” Vierra said.
The mobile health center will travel to each of the five Escondido high schools one day per week. It will begin with counseling services and eventually expand to dental and psychiatric care.
“We’re trying to create spaces of wellness and the ability for students to self-refer for counseling,” said Kim Bodie, Escondido Union High School District social worker.
She says there has been an increase in students seeking help, “We think this is a good sign, as mental health education seems to be improving with our young people. There have been many campaigns and remarks about social-emotional wellbeing. “
She hopes that talking more about mental health and providing resources will lead to more students getting the help they need.
