A statewide survey released by Blue Shield of California Foundation finds a shortfall in treatment for low-income Californians with behavioral health needs. Among those who’ve wanted to speak with a healthcare professional about their emotional health in the past year, only half have done so.
Lack of access and communication are barriers. Six in 10 say they didn’t know who to talk to. Comparatively few rate their providers highly for asking about their emotional well-being. And while three-quarters say it’s important to have access to a counselor at their place of care, just about half say one actually is available.
Produced for the Foundation by Langer Research Associates, the report is the latest in a four-year series of studies examining the healthcare experiences of low-income Californians.