REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on an Agreement with Care Solace, Inc. to Provide Coordination for Mental Health Care and Social Services to Residents and Employees of the City of Santa Clara and Related Budget Amendment
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High-Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year and 1 in 6 U.S. youth, aged 6-17, experience a mental health disorder each year. According to NAMI, individuals experiencing a mental health issue can find it challenging to live everyday life and maintain recovery. Without treatment, the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering. Untreated mental health conditions can result in unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide, and poor quality of life.
The following are a few facts and statistics on mental illness listed on NAMI's website:
* In 2020, 1 in 15 U.S adults experienced both a substance use disorder and mental illness
* In 2020, among U.S. adults who received mental health services:
o 17.7 million experienced delays or cancellations in appointments
o 7.3 million experienced delays in getting prescriptions
o 4.9 million were unable to access needed care
* High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers
* 21.1% of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. have a serious mental health condition
* Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34
* Caregivers of adults with mental or emotional health issues spend an average of 32 hours per week providing unpaid care
* The rate of unemployment is higher among U.S. adults who have mental illness (7.4%) compared to those who do not (4.6%)
* Across the U.S. economy, serious mental illness causes $193.2 billion in lost earnings e...
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