This is Life with Lisa Ling Season 9 Episode 4 LA's Mental Health Crisis
- TV14
- December 11, 2022
- 42 min
In season 9, episode 4 of This is Life with Lisa Ling, the focus is on LA's mental health crisis. The episode starts with Lisa Ling meeting with Maria, a mother who lost her son to suicide. Maria's son was just one of the many people who have taken their own lives in LA due to the lack of help for those struggling with mental illness.
Ling then visits LA County's psychiatric hospital, which is one of the busiest in the nation. The hospital sees over 20,000 patients a year and is often at full capacity. Ling talks to staff members who are struggling to keep up with the demand for mental health services.
She also speaks to individuals who have been through the system and have been involuntarily committed to the hospital. They talk about their experiences and the lack of resources available to help them cope with their mental illness.
Ling then visits the LA County Jail, where many individuals with mental health problems end up due to a lack of resources elsewhere. She meets with Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who talks about his efforts to reform the jail and provide better mental health services.
Ling also talks to individuals who have been released from the jail and how they are coping with their mental health issues. She also meets with a therapist who is providing group therapy to inmates inside the jail.
Finally, Ling talks to community members who are working to provide resources for those struggling with mental illness in LA. She visits a crisis response team that offers immediate help for those in crisis, and a peer support group that offers a safe space for individuals to talk about their struggles with mental illness.
Throughout the episode, Ling shows the devastating impact that the mental health crisis is having on individuals and their families in LA. She also highlights the importance of resources and support for those struggling with mental illness.
This episode of This is Life with Lisa Ling is a powerful reminder of the importance of mental health services and the need for more resources to be available for those in need.