Recession Cuts Funds, Increases Demand for Mental Health Care
The economic recession has negatively affected U.S. not-for-profit organizations that provide mental health care services -- including some located in California --Â as demand for services is increasing during troubled economic times, according to a survey by GuideStar, a researcher of not-for-profits, "California Watch Blog" reports.
For the survey, 6,679 public charities and private foundations nationwide -- including 813 California not-for-profit groups --Â were asked about the strength of their budgets and services across the first five months of 2010.
The survey found that 40% of respondents reported decreases in contributions this year, while 63% said demand has increased. Among the 170 mental health organizations surveyed, 51% said contributions have decreased, while 78% said demand for services has gone up.
Rusty Selix -- executive director and legislative representative for the California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies -- said that less funding and more demand is a "fairly uniform" situation among mental health care not-for-profits in California.
He said economic uncertainty has resulted in higher demand but also has led to cuts in funding, mostly from the government.
Selix added that funding cuts has decreased the accessibility for mental health services for California adults by about 10% to 20% (Lin, "California Watch Blog," 8/18).
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