Written by Marieke Roland
CV Journalism Collaboration
Mental health issues are high on the minds of Californians. The California Health Policy Survey, conducted annually by the nonprofit California Healthcare Foundation, found that access to mental health care continues to be one of the top concerns for people across the state.
The annual survey, conducted in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago, surveyed 3,431 adults 18 and older across California last fall, asking them questions about a variety of medical topics. Increasing access to mental health services ranks as one of the most important issues people want politicians to address, but it ranks second only to reducing overall health care costs, which is a top statewide priority. It becomes.
“I think the biggest takeaway from this poll is that the mental health system is not working for the majority of people in this state, and they want fundamental changes from their leaders.” said Christoph Stremikis, Director of Market Analysis and Insights. California Healthcare Foundation.
This research shows a strong appetite for change in mental health policy. Mental health was once again on the ballot in Proposition 1. It is a statewide effort to significantly shift county mental health budgets toward housing people with the most severe disabilities and approve a $6.4 billion bond to pay for state housing and treatment facilities.
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CHCF’s annual poll also asked about cost of services, medical debt, provider availability and other health care issues, and analyzed responses based on race, income level and political affiliation.
Other key takeaways from the 2024 survey include:
· 81% of Californians say access to mental health treatment is “very” or “extremely” important to the governor and Legislature. The top health-related priority was “reducing medical costs,” which ranked second behind “reducing medical costs” at 82%.
· 25% of Californians, or 1 in 4 residents, required treatment for a “severe mental illness,” or had someone nearby who did.
· 52% of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment reported having difficulty finding a health care provider who accepted their insurance (49% of those surveyed reported similar difficulties; (up 6% from the previous year).
· 67% of all Californians believe that “some” or “substantial” improvements are needed in the treatment of people with serious mental illnesses. This percentage increases to 85% for residents who have received treatment or know someone nearby who needs treatment.
Strong support for access to mental health across socio-economic and political boundaries
From a racial, socio-economic, and political perspective, mental health remains one of the top priorities for most groups.
All Latinx and white respondents ranked increasing access to mental health as their top health-related concern, with 85% and 82%, respectively, rating it “very” or “very much.” They answered that it is important.
Black Californians surveyed also strongly supported increasing access to mental health care (92%) and “reducing disparities in the quality of health care between racial/ethnic groups” (93%). The top health priority for Asians was reducing treatment costs (82%), but mental health issues were also “very” or “extremely” important to 70% of respondents.
Concerns about mental health have also crossed the line between economics and politics. Lowering health care costs and improving mental health access are top priorities for low-income Californians surveyed, at 91% and 89%, respectively. High-income Californians have the same top two health priorities, with 79% saying both are “very” or “extremely” important in the survey.
Increasing access to mental health care is also the top health issue for members of both major political parties, with 87% of Democrats and 74% of Republicans saying it is “very” or “very” important. I think there is.
Although their top priorities differed, none of the political parties considered access to mental health to be important, and neither did any other party. Independents say reducing overall costs is most important (87%), while increasing the number of health care providers across the state tops the poll of other party members at 91%.
“When you ask people about the system that treats serious mental health problems in their state, the majority say fundamental changes are needed,” Stremikis said of the CHCF findings. “The message is: keep working to develop the system. Too many Californians don’t have access to that system. Those who do have access to the system are demanding significant improvements. It is essential that we put it at the top of our list.”
CHCF is a funder of CVJC’s Health Equity Lab
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— marike roland He is a senior health equity reporter at the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, a Merced-based nonprofit newsroom that works with the California Healthcare Foundation (CHCF).
