Study: Bay Area Counties Rank Low in Mental Health

Residents of Alameda and San Francisco counties show the greatest need for mental health services in the state, according to a report released by four UC Berkeley professors last week.

Alameda and San Francisco counties ranked lowest in the state, receiving a score of 3 on a 1 to 10 scale devised to test overall well-being. Questions included limitations on activity or work due to emotional problems, sadness, anxiety, binge drinking and perceived need for mental health services.

The two counties had a high proportion of residents experiencing significant emotional problems.

Among the state's highest-ranked counties were Sacramento, San Diego and Orange counties.

Researchers collected data through a phone survey of 55,428 California adults. Since the study was conducted by phone, however, it did not take into account the homeless population or individuals currently residing in institutions.

Richard Scheffler, UC Berkeley professor and co-author of the report, said that the low ranks of the two Bay Area counties might be attributed to the stresses of urban life.

"The urban city like San Francisco is very dense, and cities like San Diego are not, and so that has something to do with it," he said.

State funding for mental health services in each county did not always reflect a better sense of well-being.

Sacramento County received $16 per capita in the 2000-01 fiscal year and ranked high in mental health measures, while Alameda County received $90 per capita and ranked among the lowest in the state. The state average was $66 per capita.

Scheffler said he hopes counties with low mental health measures will look to counties with fewer reports of mental health problems as an example.

"It is not about the fact that San Francisco did so poorly, but about looking at counties like Sacramento or San Diego, try to find out what they're doing, and maybe there are some lessons to be learned," he said.

The study emerges as Alameda County prepares to decide how to spend a projected $275 million in funds to be collected over this fiscal year from Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act approved by voters last November.

The act places an additional 1 percent tax on taxpayers whose income exceeds $1 million to fund expansion of mental health services throughout the state, including education and training of mental health workers, and early intervention programs.

Allocations to counties have not yet been determined, according to David Kears, director of Alameda County's Health Care Services Agency.

Kears said the act should substantially increase the county's ability to expand mental health services, which currently include 24-hour and long-term care, and outpatient services.

Kears said he also hopes funding will help alleviate the system's current flaws-a lack of services to the mentally ill homeless population, and a lack of early prevention programs.

Alameda County is currently hosting a series of community forums throughout the county to gain public input on how to spend the money once it is allocated.

"We're not discussing specific programs yet," Kears said. "We're trying to get feedback so that everyone has maximum participation."

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