Our County’s Crisis

San Luis Obispo County is facing a growing mental health crisis, felt most urgently among our youth.

According to the 2023 California Healthy Kids Survey, 42% of local 11th graders reported feeling depressed or hopeless, up from 29% just a decade ago. 18% seriously considered suicide in the past year, higher than the statewide average.

HOPE with IAN was founded in loving memory of Ian Strain. Our nonprofit exists to ensure that no family has to face a mental health crisis – or endure such a tragic loss – without support, education, and meaningful connection. From the beginning, this organization has carried forward Ian’s legacy – not in silence, but as a lasting light within our community.  At the heart of our mission is a commitment to break the stigma surrounding mental health, provide access to holistic, scienced-backed education, and build a foundation of mutual support for individuals and families on their healing journey.

The crisis doesn’t end with youth. Among local adults, the suicide rate is 15.5 per 100,000, well above the state average of 10.2. Yet fewer than half of those needing help actually receive care. Our mental health infrastructure is critically under-resourced, with only 5.8 inpatient psychiatric beds per 100,000 residents, just 12% of the national recommendation.

HOPE with I.A.N. is stepping in to fill the gap with community-based mental health education and early intervention. We’re launching a stigma-free outreach initiative modeled on the principles of the Nedley Depression and Anxiety Community Program, adapted for accessibility and local relevance.

Our approach is not treatment, it’s prevention, education, and connection. By offering practical tools, group support, and a safe space to talk about mental health, we aim to reach people before a crisis hits.