Our California Mental Health Treatment Centers for Young Adults
Reading Time: 5 minutesNearly half of all young adults in California and around the country are experiencing anxiety and depression, according to new research. This age group is struggling more than any other demographic. However, there are not enough California mental health treatment centers or providers to address this crisis among young people. In fact, California has one of the worst rankings in the country when it comes to accessing mental health services.
Newport Institute is addressing this gap in care by providing specialized programming in Northern and Southern California. Our California treatment centers for ages 18–35 provide healing environments, individualized treatment plans, and an integrated approach facilitated by a team of experienced and caring medical and behavioral healthcare experts.
We provide specialized residential care in California for young adults from around the country who are struggling with primary mental health and substance use disorders, primary obsessive-compulsive disorder, and co-occurring issues like disordered eating and process addictions. And we work with many major insurance plans, including Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield, and more, so young adults can access the highest-quality care with the minimum out-of-pocket cost.
What You’ll Learn
- How many young adults with mental illness are unable to access California mental healthcare services?
- What are the most common mental health conditions in California?
- What young adult disorders do Newport Institute’s residential programs in California treat?
- Are California mental health treatment services covered by insurance?
The Latest California Mental Health Statistics
Let’s take a closer look at California mental health statistics. According to Mental Health America (MHA)’s 2024 California mental health statistics, 1 in 5 adults in California struggles with a mental illness—more than 6 million in total. And about 4 percent of adults report having suicidal thoughts. California also has one of the highest rates of substance abuse disorder in the nation, with 17 percent of adults reporting a substance use disorder in the past year.
However, California is unable to keep up with the growing need for mental healthcare and substance use treatment. Among adults in the state with mental illness, 63 percent do not receive any California mental health treatment at all. This puts California well below the national average of 56 percent. Only two states (Arizona and Hawaii) rank worse than California in terms of access to mental healthcare.
Part of the problem is a shortage of California mental health treatment providers, as well as a limited number of anxiety and depression treatment centers in California. More than half of Californians (52 percent) say their community does not have enough mental health providers to meet its needs. Moreover, 434,000 adults with mental illness in the state do not have California mental health insurance. For many people, that makes accessing care nearly impossible.
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5 Top California Mental Health Challenges for Young Adults
Young adults in California face the same challenges as their peers across the country. The biggest challenges impacting California young adult mental health include the following:
1. The Negative Impact of Social Media
Because the state is a hub of the tech industry, California legislators are particularly aware of the detrimental effects of social media on young people. Social media addiction can take a devastating toll on young adults’ well-being.
2. The Mental Health Effects of Politics
Political events at home and abroad, like the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, can catalyze a wide range of emotions and reactions for young adults. This form of stress can damage relationships, disrupt self-care, and even lead to physical symptoms. In a recent survey, 20 percent of respondents reported feeling fatigued because of political news, and 1 in 4 felt depressed when their candidate lost an election. In addition to political upheaval, social and economic uncertainty also contribute to the young adult mental health crisis.
3. Climate Change Anxiety
For many young adults, environmental issues are not only a global concern but also a personal detriment to well-being. In California, the impact of climate change includes the rising sea level, an increased risk of wildfires and drought, poor air quality, and threats to biodiversity and to the state’s agriculture industry. This has led to what the American Psychological Association (APA) defines as “eco-anxiety”—“a chronic fear of environmental doom.” The APA stated that the impact of climate change on individuals’ quality of life “may lead to mental health impacts such as loss of a sense of control and autonomy, and feelings of helplessness, fear and fatalism.”
4. Homelessness Among LGBTQ Youth
The city of Los Angeles has the second-highest homeless population in the country. This includes thousands of young adults ages 18 through 24 who homeless due to being economically and/or emotionally disconnected from their families. Among homeless youth, more than a third identify as LGBTQ, according to the California Coalition for Youth. And this group is two to four times as likely to report depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts, as compared to those with stable housing.
5. Marginalization Experienced by BIPOC Young Adults
California has a more diverse population than many other US states, including a high percentage of Latinx, African-American, and Asian American Pacific Islander young adults. These marginalized groups face ongoing discrimination and prejudice, leading to higher rates of mental health issues.
Know the Facts
Suicide among Black youth (ages 10–24) in California doubled since 2015, according to the California Department of Mental Health.
Newport Institute’s Mental Health Treatment in California
Newport Institute is responding to the shortage of care for young adults by expanding our outpatient and residential mental health facilities in California. Serving young adults ages 18–35 from around the country, our California mental health treatment centers young adult depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and co-occurring disorders like disordered eating and social media and tech addiction. With both Northern California mental health treatment centers and Southern California mental health facilities, Newport provides comprehensive and individualized care proven to lead to successful outcomes.
In addition, Newport accepts insurance to cover our California mental health services. At Newport Institute, we work with most major insurance companies, both in-network and out of network, including the most popular California mental health insurance plans. We work hard to reduce the cost of treatment and ease the insurance process. Our goal is to optimize access to care for young adults in order to address the mental health crisis in California and around the country.
Know the Facts
Approximately two-thirds of California adults with mental health issues receive no treatment at all, according to Mental Health America’s 2024 rankings.
Specialized Care for Young Adults at Our California Mental Health Treatment Centers
Each client in our long-term mental health facilities in California receives a tailored treatment plan, designed by a team of medical and behavioral healthcare experts. Young adults’ daily schedules include a variety of evidence-based clinical and experiential modalities, as well as academic and life skills programming to support educational and career goals.
Treatment is provided in a supportive, compassionate environment where young adults can connect with peers and mentors, ending the loneliness and depression that is so prevalent among today’s young people. Our locations include both Northern California and Southern California mental health treatment centers.
Newport Institute’s licensed clinicians specialize in treating trauma and related issues through proven modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EFT, and EMDR. Our approach builds autonomy for young adults while involving family in the healing process. We use Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) to repair parent-child relationships, so young adults feel safe going to their parents for support when they are struggling. This strengthened foundation becomes a launching pad for building a more independent life and authentic relationships outside the family.
Learn More About Newport Institute in California
Contact us today to learn more about our clinical model and our long-term mental health facilities in California for ages 18–35. Our Admissions team will take you through a psychological assessment and a review of your California mental health insurance at no charge.
Get started today on the path to healing.
