Robert Garrova
I cover mental health at a time when L.A. — and the nation — is failing people who live with a serious mental illness. The L.A. County jail system is the de-facto mental health institution for our region, and people who want help with their mental health often can’t get it, even if they can afford it. I’ll work to help Angelenos understand how we got here and what reforms aim to change things. I’ll do this through the stories of people struggling with their own mental health and those trying to get care for a loved one.
My reporting has taken me to the edge of wildfires in California, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, steps away from a robot that’s now exploring Mars, and into the homes of countless Angelenos.
I’ve had many jobs in radio. I used to help produce and direct the flagship show for Marketplace, a daily business and economic news show. I also spent a couple years in the Northeast working as a reporter. I found my love of audio journalism while interning on LAist's (formerly KPCC’s) Off-Ramp in 2013.
I was born and raised in SoCal. I’m most proud when my journalism can help raise the voices of people struggling in this beautiful region stricken by inequality.
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The goal is to offer the suicide prevention training sessions virtually, in-person at a recreation center and at schools and churches around L.A starting early next year. -
The jail’s head doctor said he was facing a roughly 40% vacancy in mental health positions.
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According to a Gallup poll, four out of 10 U.S. workers say their job has a “somewhat” or “extremely” negative effect on their mental health.
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A patchwork of efforts across the city and county of L.A. struggle to meet the demand for psychiatric crisis response. “No matter how much you ask for the help, getting the help is not something that is guaranteed,” one mother told LAist.
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Managers here say the Koreatown Mental Health Center should be able to keep a caseload of as many as 1,000 clients.
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The majority of women said they had mental health concerns, but they didn’t seek help for them.
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According to a new report from the L.A. County Department of Health, fentanyl overdose deaths went up nearly 1,300% from 2016 to 2021.
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Amid what experts say is a national dearth of mental health care workers, L.A. County is beefing up efforts to train the next generation of professionals.
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A new song and campaign from First5 CA encourages deep breathing techniques to regulate emotions.
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About two dozen people gathered in downtown L.A. on Thanksgiving morning to pass out razors, toothpaste, soap and plenty of socks to unhoused people.
