July 18, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Mental Health Focus: Compassionate Santa Monica Looks Beyond the Index

By Zoë Muntaner

 

“The humanity we all share is more important than the mental illness we might not,” Elyn Sacks, Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Santa Monica’s Wellbeing Index encourages collaboration among City leaders, local organizations and residents, with the aim to improve our collective wellbeing. In light of May being Mental Health Month, it’s pertinent to examine Index goals and how they correlate with concurrent programs in the City.

I met with Lisa Parson, Project Manager of the Wellbeing Project to get some clarity of what the Wellbeing Project is, what the Wellbeing Index findings were, and how they align with my project, Compassionate Santa Monica, and the City’s stated goal of compassion. According to Parson, she is focused on making the Project an asset to the City.

“Government wants to support the wellbeing of residents through policy and programs” read key findings of wellbeing perspectives and assets in Santa Monica, Creating a City of Wellbeing. Since the report is in development, I analyzed City health data to reveal insights that could potentially impact the most relevant aspect of wellbeing: Mental Health, which is also the focus of the healthcare sector of Compassionate Santa Monica.

Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and wellbeing, and mental illnesses are common and sometimes treatable, but people experience symptoms of mental illnesses differently – some engage in potentially dangerous or risky behaviors to avoid or cover up their symptoms.

According to the Wellbeing Index, only 7 percent of Santa Monica residents report serious psychological distress, one third of Santa Monicans report being stressed all or most of the time, 80 percent get more than eight hours of sleep and 52 percent aren’t active on a daily basis.

Prognosis? These figures do not add up.

Stress is an indicator of anxiety, a serious mental health disorder. With a brain that is constantly engaged, it makes sense that when bedtime comes around, our brains have problems shutting off. Lack of sleep or insomnia seems to be a common modern affliction.

Santa Monicans don’t seem to have that problem in big numbers. According to the National Sleep Foundation we need seven to nine hours of sleep in a 24 hour cycle. Advocates suggest 10 hours to accommodate possible outliers.

“In general, sleeping more than eight hours every night may not be healthy,” said Gabriela Cora, MD, diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. “If you oversleep and experience a mood that’s low or sad, this may indicate depression.”

Another important Index figure is that only 56 percent of Santa Monicans feel that they can trust their neighbors, compared to an 80 percent national average. A marker of poor mental health involves a lack of trust, so as a city, we fall far behind.

This begs the question, “Is mental health awareness openly advocated for in Santa Monica?” With a lens of radical candor I find ironic that the Wellbeing Index, as well as a vast array of local services and departments such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize, Disability Services, Social Services, Seniors, Status of Women Commissions (potential advocates of mental health) and many non-profit and civic partners, have all but ignored Mental Health Awareness Month as a relevant topic for proclamation in our City.

Compassionate Santa Monica partnered with Mental Health America to bring the national “Risky Business” and “Before Stage Four” campaigns to our city, but more needs to be done.

We must speak up early and educate people about risky behavior and its connection to mental illness – and do so in a compassionate, judgement-free way. When we engage in prevention and early identification, we can help reduce the burden of mental illness by identifying symptoms and warning signs early – and provide effective treatment Before Stage Four.

Hot on the heels of the sobering numbers of the recent Homeless Count, displacement evictions and crime, it is pertinent to examine this relationship to mental health awareness. My request is not a one sided or self- serving. California State Senator Jim Beall has introduced a resolution for National Mental Health Awareness month that will be voted on Monday May 21, 2017. Senator Ben Allen plans to support it. The SCR 54 measure would recognize May 2017 as National Mental Health Awareness Month in California to enhance public awareness of mental illness.

For more on the discussion head to @CompassionateSAMO on facebook.

in News
<>Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays at...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Film Review: Superman

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

“This movie is packed with storyline, Superman lore, meaningful objects, and action.” writes Kathryn Whitney Boole Rated PG-13129 MinutesReleased July...

Multiple Drug Arrests Reported in Palisades Park in Recent Weeks

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

SMPD Reported Several of the Arrests Between June 29 and July 5 The Santa Monica Police Department reported several drug-related...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

SMPD to Conduct Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation on Friday

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The focus will be on speeding, illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to cyclists or walkers,...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

LAPD Seeks Missing 63-Year-Old Man Known to Frequent Playa Vista

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

His family last heard from him via a group text on June 22 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons...

Santa Monica Offers City-Owned Properties for Affordable Housing Development

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The move aims to address the city’s Regional Housing Need Assessment of 8,895 units, with a goal of producing at...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...

Venice Beach to Host First Medal at 2028 Olympics

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Venice Beach, known for its vibrant boardwalk, will kick off the 844 ticketed events, hosting the triathlon along its coastline...