Helping Unhoused Angelenos With Severe Mental Illness (And Other Headlines)

When I was finding a therapist for my anxiety, it took me a long time to find not only the right match, but one that I can afford. It turns out I’m not alone. Angelenos struggle every day with finding the right mental health help — but finding and maintaining it is even more difficult if you are unhoused with severe mental illness.

Street psychiatry

The latest homeless count from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) found that 25% of unhoused people in L.A. County self-reported experiencing severe mental illness. To break it down further, a study found that, in 2020, 4,500 unhoused people in L.A. County had been diagnosed with a psychotic spectrum disorder like schizophrenia.

To help address the issue, L.A. County has psychiatrists dedicated to aiding unsheltered people with severe mental health illnesses where they are. It’s part of the burgeoning practice of street medicine.

My colleague Robert Garrova, who has been reporting on the state of mental health for unhoused people in L.A. County, talked to and followed along with a street medicine team in L.A.

Groups like the Keck School of Medicine of USC's Street Medicine teams work hard to gain the trust of their patients and to come back when they say they will, so they feel comfortable to open up about their mental health struggles.

“We don’t want to be yet another person that’s abandoned them,” said Brett Feldman, director and co-founder of the Division of Street Medicine at USC.

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Wait... one more thing

Bonding over soccer and a morning pint

Photo of LA Spurs member during the 2006-07 season.

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Courtesy of LA Spurs

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LA Spurs

)

If you, like me, have been curious to watch more English soccer, or football as everyone else in the world calls it, because of shows like Ted Lasso or movies back in the day like Bend It Like Beckham, well I have some good news for you. But first, let me share a few facts that I learned as of writing this newsletter.

One, the English Premier League, England's top-level soccer league, is celebrating its 160-year anniversary this year; and two, the country is the birthplace of the sport.

But back to the good news. There are a lot of Premier League fan clubs in SoCal you can join and proudly wear your favorite team jersey. Imagine this: Early morning soccer with a “pint of beer with your best lads and ladettes,” or if you don’t partake in alcohol, just good ole’ yelling about that red card or that sometimes overly dramatic injury.

Now… is there one for Formula 1? Asking for a friend (Me, I’m the friend.)