The Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the California Children's Mental Health Master Plan on Monday, which seeks to ensure that all children, parents and communities in the state have greater access to mental health and substance abuse services.
Nationally, children are reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety at record rates and are considering or attempting suicide at historic levels. Here in California, about one-third of 7th and 9th graders and half of 11th graders experienced chronic sadness in the 2020-2021 school year and an estimated 1 in 10 children between the ages of 12 and 17 experienced at least one episode of some major depressive disorder in the past year.
Thus, suicide rates for California youth ages 10 to 18 increased 20 percent from 2019 to 2020.
The plan, which was presented at McLane High School in Fresno, seeks to provide social-emotional support services for students with a dedicated social-emotional support staff comprised of psychologists, social workers and wellness specialists.
Over the past decade, Fresno Unified School District has increased mental health staffing from about 50 to more than 200 professionals. The Children's Mental Health Master Plan provides funding to schools across the state to offer the same type of resources that McLane and Fresno Unified offer.
"Mental and behavioral health is one of the greatest challenges of our time. As other states eliminate resources to support children's mental health, California is doubling down with the most significant overhaul of our mental health system in the state's history," Newsom said.
"We are investing billions of dollars to ensure that all California children have better access to comprehensive mental health and substance abuse services. The Children's Mental Health Master Plan is based on a very simple belief: all children deserve mental health support. That's the California way: putting our children first," he added.
The governor also signed Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva's AB 2508, a bill to better define the role of school counselors that recognizes the importance of mental health access.
Over the past three years, California launched a historic overhaul of the state's mental health system, investing $4.7 billion to increase coverage options and public awareness so that all children and youth are routinely screened, supported and cared for.
The funding creates new virtual platforms and establishes a new pipeline for the mental health workforce, adding 40,000 new mental health workers in the state.
"As a parent, there is nothing worse than watching your child suffer and feeling powerless to help them. And that's the case for too many families across the country with children struggling with serious issues like depression and anxiety without access to the care they need," said Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
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