Mental-health needs unmet

Of the 2 million California residents who have mental-health issues or disorders requiring health care, most do not receive adequate treatment, if any.

A study released Nov. 30 by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research concluded that one in 12 California adults reported symptoms of serious psychological distress that impairs their ability to function at home or at work, according to the Los Angeles Times. Of those adults reporting mental-health problems, half said they were not receiving any treatment, while 25 percent said they received “inadequate care,” which is defined as four or fewer visits to a health-care provider over a year or relying on prescription medication alone to manage symptoms.

The study’s authors suggested mental-health care needs to be integrated as part of general health care. Data referenced in the report was gathered from the 2007 California Health Interview Survey.