Mental Health & Substance Use

Health Priority: Mental Health & Substance Use

While rates of depression and suicidal ideation in the Beach Cities are lower than County and national averages, mental health remains a key priority for the community as challenges persist across specific indicators and age groups:

Stress: Nearly half of Beach Cities adults report significant daily stress. While stress in the Beach Cities has decreased by 11% since 2010, it continues to be higher than the national average.

Loneliness: Nearly 1 in 5 adults report little or no connection to others, making this an emerging concern.

Suicidal Ideation: Despite downward trends since the COVID-19 pandemic, an alarming 1 in 15 7th and 9th graders report seriously considering attempting suicide within the past 12 months.

Mental Health in Adults: Adults ages 18 to 44 experience higher levels of stress and worry, report poorer mental health status, and face greater challenges with loneliness and social connection than older adults.

Pandemic-related factors like social isolation, psychological distress and substance use have further impacted emotional and behavioral health across all ages. Mental health issues and substance use disorders can also be linked together. Since first identifying substance use as a priority, rates in the Beach Cities have largely aligned with County and State averages except for alcohol use, which remains notably high. Challenges around substance use continue to persist across specific indicators and age groups:

Alcohol: Adult alcohol consumption is 67% higher than the U.S. average, and past 30-day alcohol use among youth exceeds County and State levels. Additionally, emergency calls involving alcohol far outnumber those related to other substances.

Cannabis: Cannabis use among Beach Cities adults aligns with national trends but are higher than the County, with daily use below the U.S. average. While youth cannabis use has declined, vaping has emerged as a preferred delivery-method, requiring ongoing monitoring.

Tobacco: Significant progress has been made in tobacco control policies and smoking rates. However, concerns remain regarding e-cigarette use among adults and the rising popularity of smokeless tobacco products like nicotine pouches (e.g. Zyn), which may appeal to youth.