Supporting a good cause is never a bad idea. But charitable giving in Orange County gives Southern Californians a unique opportunity to have a transformational impact on local lives that globally-minded missions can’t match.
The team at Mariposa Center, a mental health and substance abuse treatment nonprofit in the city of Orange, has seen the positive power of charitable giving play out in many people’s lives. And a growing mental health crisis is making local contributions to health and wellness more important than ever.
The Growing Mental Health Crisis
According to a KFF/CNN poll in October, a whopping 90% of Americans believe that the US is facing a mental health epidemic.
Two of the most commonly cited reasons for this increase are the influence of social media and the effects of Covid-19 lockdowns.
Social media’s impact on mental health, for young people in particular, has come under greater scrutiny recently. A study published by the National Library of Medicine found that adolescent depression and suicidal behavior have increased considerably over the past two decades as social media has taken a more prominent role in daily life.
The trauma of Covid-19 lockdowns also exacerbated existing mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. In fact, the CDC found that drug overdoses increased by more than 28% between April 2020 and 2021, and the number of overdoses has continued to increase nationwide.
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Challenges in California
California communities are not exempt from mental health and substance abuse challenges.
Research by the California Health Care Foundation published in 2022 showed that almost 1 in 7 adults are living with mental illness in the Golden State, and 1 in 26 has a serious mental illness that makes daily activities difficult.
The same study found that roughly 9% of California’s population aged 12 and older reported symptoms that met the criteria for abuse of or dependence on alcohol or illicit substances – about 2.9 million people in total.
Given these facts and figures, the best way to push back against these challenges is to donate or volunteer at a community organization that specifically treats these challenges and disorders.
How Charitable Giving in Orange County Helps Your Community
Donations to facilities like Mariposa Center, where individuals and families struggling with mental health and substance abuse challenges can get treatment and assistance with recovery, are a vital way to help the Orange County community.
Mariposa’s programs, made possible by our generous partner network and charitable giving in Orange County, take the challenges of mental health and substance abuse recovery head-on. By pairing innovative therapies with proven programs and knowledgeable, caring staff, Mariposa Center has transformed thousands of lives for the better since 1997.
“Mariposa Center has been active in Orange County for decades, which has allowed us to have a positive impact on tens of thousands of lives over that timespan. The work that we do is challenging, but the rewards are life-changing – not just for the people that we help, but for the staff and donors that make what we do possible.”
Dr. Krista Driver, LMFT; President & CEO, Mariposa Center
Charitable giving in Orange County can impact individuals’ quality of life immediately and fuel a brighter, healthier future. When you support organizations like Mariposa Center, you aren’t just changing a life – you’re helping the whole community heal and grow, one person at a time.
Click here and make a tax-deductible charitable donation to Mariposa Center now!
