By Steve Pitman, Cal Matters, August 26, 2021
Even before the pandemic, mental health disorders were among the most common chronic illnesses Californians face.
The COVID-19 crisis — and the resulting isolation and economic downturn many have experienced — have intensified these challenges. More than one in five American adults reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder in the last year — a 20% to 40% increase from the pre-COVID period.
The good news is that mental health parity laws have significantly expanded private and public health insurance coverage for mental health conditions. All health insurance plans offered through the Affordable Care Act, for example, now cover mental health and substance abuse services at the same level as other health conditions — a much-needed development.
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