Gaps in Mental Health Care in Orange County
While the entire country experienced a surge in mental health concerns during the pandemic, Orange County specifically has been experiencing higher hospitalizations due to substance use problems compared
WRITTEN BY ARUNIMA
to the majority of other counties in
KAPOOR
California as well as an increase in suicide rates over the past decade.
Created in the context of a
Data from the California Health
global pandemic and increasing
Interview Survey (CHIS) indicates
mental health needs, the clinical
that only about half of the adults in
area in the Department of
Orange County who need mental or
Psychological Science at UCI
behavioral health services receive
represents the very first PhD
them, a worse ratio than the majority
program in clinical psychology in
of Californian counties.
Orange County. Our program aims to
The number of mental health
identify and address some of the
providers is currently also
gaps in mental health care in Orange
decreasing. The Healthforce Centre
County. Currently, approximately 1
at UCSF released a research report in
in 6 people in Orange County report
2018 examining California’s Current
mental health concerns and about
and Future Behavioral Health
7% of Orange County adults report
Workforce and found that the
serious psychological distress.
number of mental health providers is
4
""Only about half of the adults in Orange County who need mental or behavioral health services receive them."
