One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
With California in the throes of fiscal meltdown and the democrats about to face their maker in November, one in five Californians report they are in "serious distress" and in need of therapy.
Almost 5 million California adults say they could use help with a mental or emotional problem, according to a survey released Wednesday by researchers at UCLA. About 1 million of them meet the criteria for "serious psychological distress."
UCLA displays a keen eye for the obvious when it notes that one third of these "distressed" Californians don't seek out "mental health services" because of "the lack of health insurance coverage." Well these down-and-out Californians might be down-and-out no more, thanks to Uncle Obama:
The survey showed that lack of health insurance coverage was a major reason why people didn't seek help -- a situation that may be rectified somewhat by state and national mental health parity laws now in effect that require insurers to cover mental health conditions similarly to they way they cover physical conditions. (The final phase of the federal law went into effect on July 1.)
Should universal insurance cover mental health therapy? A well-known psychiatrist and friend of my family says no. He explained to us that if a patient isn't invested in his own treatment, then the patient is less likely to recover. It's a rare patient, he says, who improves psychologically on someone else's dime.
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Jun '10
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
I think everyone could use help with a mental or emotional problem. Most of us seek out normal, healthy human interaction without even considering a therapist. Clergy are trained in counseling, as well. Maybe even Rev. Wright.
I think every category of health care services should have an incentive for consumers to spend their health care dollars wisely. I'm too lazy to do a search, but it's been proven that when consumers have both financial responsibility and the potential for reimbursment of unspent dollars, they are careful in their spending. I imagine if universal coverage extended to mental health therapy, there'd be long lines of dysfunctional Woody Allen types at therapists offices up and down the coast, ready to rehash evey moment of angst and emotional pain experienced. I'm not willing to pay for that!
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
Surely that depends on the mental illness in question? There's a world of difference between florid schizophrenia and, as the article in question puts it, feeling "sad, anxious and nervous."
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
I totally agree. As long as the problem isn't "florid schizophrenia," as Claire says, then normal emotional distress finds a great antidote in human interaction. People with serious mental ailments obviously need serious treatment.
I worry that once therapy becomes too cheap/free and available, that those who feel the completely normal emotions of "sad anxious and nervous" are going to drug their problems away.
The below passage from Macbeth speaks to the issue well I think. Macbeth is speaking to a doctor:
May '10
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
Emily Esfahani Smith
I worry that once therapy becomes too cheap/free and available, that those who feel the completely normal emotions of "sad anxious and nervous" are going to drug their problems away.
Too late. People have been doing this since man discovered fermentation.
Humans inevitably face sadness, anxiety and nervousness, and other dark emotional states, and cultures cycle between beliefs on the best cure. Some turn to God, or to the bottle, others prescribe hard work and others just uproot and run off to a fresh start. These things are like fashion. The ancients sought the advice of the oracles; we go to shrinks, or to yoga class.
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
Emily Esfahani Smith: I worry that once therapy becomes too cheap/free and available, that those who feel the completely normal emotions of "sad anxious and nervous" are going to drug their problems away.
The below passage from Macbeth speaks to the issue well I think. Macbeth is speaking to a doctor:
Philip Rieff:
I cringed when Elizabeth Edwards demanded we treat mental illness, just like physical illness, governmentally. Fraud from below and the most intimate tyranny from above.
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
Your math is off.
Most of the Ricochet team is in California. Which is about six or seven of us. And I can assure you that at least four of us need therapy urgently.
The others can make do with a cocktail and some yoga.
Jun '10
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
Yes, many alcoholics are self medicating depression or other ailments. And there are obviously many serious conditions that require therapy and/or meds. I worked on a hospital med/surg floor that included a sub unit for detoxing alcoholics & addicts. Often the prescribed drugs (like librium to prevent severe alcohol withdrawal) are life saving, or at the very least, facilitate rehabilitation and sobriety. Dealing with an unmedicated schizophrenic patient is incredibly sad and I can't imagine anyone suggesting they be denied coverage.
I think we want to avoid stretching precious health care dollars to cover the self absorbed guy or gal heading to the therapist when he's suffering from a case of the "Mondays."
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
Rob, on which side of that line do you fall? : )
Stickershock -- I think you're right. I'd like to know the breakdown of how many mental health patients are actually seriously suffering and how many are just self-obsessed grievers.
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
Using current population figures, that means more than 8 million Californians need therapy! I'm finally beginning to understand this state.
May '10
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
That's probably significantly less that are currently receiving therapy, so in fact this study is recommending a reduction .
Living in CA, I sometimes wonder if our problem is that those who are taking meds don't need them, and those who need them won't take them.
(Hmmm, I see a movie title in there... "Attack of the Unmedicated!")
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
Pat--I can only imagine what the state of therapeutic play is in places like New Jersey and New York!
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
G.A. Dean
Emily Esfahani Smith
I worry that once therapy becomes too cheap/free and available, that those who feel the completely normal emotions of "sad anxious and nervous" are going to drug their problems away.
Too late. People have been doing this since man discovered fermentation.
Humans inevitably face sadness, anxiety and nervousness, and other dark emotional states, and cultures cycle between beliefs on the best cure. Some turn to God, or to the bottle, others prescribe hard work and others just uproot and run off to a fresh start. These things are like fashion. The ancients sought the advice of the oracles; we go to shrinks, or to yoga class. · Jul 29 at 9:18am
The paradox here is that in some ways we're getting lonelier and more social at the same time. Freudian talk therapy seems like an aristocratic privilege up against this kind of complex predicament -- as quaint, costly, plodding, and ineffective as a horse-drawn carriage. So we reach for the prescription drugs. And yet! The soul still cries out for a human cure...or at least a human way of coping. We used to better-structure the relationships that offered that.
Jun '10
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
If they must, I prefer Californians self-medicate. No couch, no prescriptions, no doctors, no state or federal funds.
Here, Jeff Lebowski –Californian and anti-nihilist-- comes to mind. The Dude.
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
G.A Dean, you write "The ancients sought the advice of the oracles; we go to shrinks, or to yoga class."
I'm not a religious person, but I'm curious: do think we lose something by finding therapeutic cures in secular sources, like shrinks or yoga, rather than religious or transcendent ones?
James--since you mentioned reaching for prescription drugs, do you think that a non-physical problem (like emotional distress) can be removed by a physical cure (drugs)? Maybe if you believe that sadness/depression have physical causes--but I've never been able to wrap my mind around that and be totally convinced by it. What do you think?
Tim -- good thing The Dude might live to see Californians finally legalize pot!
Jun '10
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
Hey, I'm from tiny, stable Utah, but beginning in late January 2009, I began suffering from anxiety, shame for all the bad things America has done (including the coup in Iran in the 1950s), lack of confidence in the future (it's depressing to look at my retirement savings account), an overwhelming desire to engage in inter-generational theft from children and grandchildren, and (heaven help me) the thought that a Prius might be the car for me.
Can anyone help diagnose my malady?
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
Hi Emily! You could start a new post on this! .... God, Higher Power, whatever, has saved many souls. But "religion" can turn off so many and, I think, has limits in certain circumstances... Anyway, interesting idea.
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
Hi Ursula! I think you're right--I just wonder if some of our more human problems, which tend to be more transcendent and existential than medical, can find some alleviation in religion, or at least morality, or something like that.
For example--and this is kind of a silly example--but I have a 12-year old brother who's working as a counselor this summer at a NJ hockey summer camp. I'm home in NJ visiting, so yesterday when my dad and I picked him up from the arena, he was telling us that he's not getting along with another counselor, who's 17 and a little bit of a bully. As a young guy, my bro's gut-instinct is to bite back whenever this guy bites--but we explained that maybe the best thing for him (my bro) to do is to be even nicer than usual to this guy. In other words: christian charity.
I think one universally good thing about religion and morality is that they keep our happiness intact by teaching us how to react and adapt to trying circumstances.
May '10
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
I imagine that depends on which "cure" you think is efficacious. Some distrust religions and place their faith in the secular. Personally I do find the "faith-based" approach a better one, and I have heard fully secular psychiatric experts recommend it, I expect because they have seen results.
The "problem" with religion is also, I suspect, one reason that it works better (as 'therapy'). People want something simple and quick, the proverbial "band-aid". A proper religion demands a lot more; serious life-changes, typically. That's not what folks want, but if you are looking for lasting relief from your psychic aches, that's what works.
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
I think it's a great idea to open to the wider audience. Some of the more religious folk (contributors and members) will probably have great things to say. What are the salves provided by religion/God? How does it get better if one "practices" a religion? What are the limits? etc.
I'd be curious to hear how the Out-Nice-ing trick works for your brother :)
Re: One in Five Californians Need Therapy?
OK, I'm working on the new post now, Ursula! And I might borrow some of the questions you post above.
I'll report back on how the out-nice-ing works!