A teacher greets her students as they enter the classroom on the first day of school at Loma Vista Elementary School in Salinas on Aug. 8, 2023. Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMattersThe youth mental health crisis is well documented, yet most California schools lack the resources, training and capacity to identify concerns and respond. Greater investment, including funds to hire more school counselors, could make a difference.I got the call from John’s middle school on a Monday afternoon.
The challenge for educators like me is that there is no official protocol for identifying and supporting students like Jessica to ensure we take appropriate steps. More broadly, how can we create a supportive environment that promotes their emotional and psychological health? One solution is to have part of that investment go toward hiring more counselors for our schools. California schools average– more than double the recommended ratio of 250 to 1. After the fateful call about John, I learned that his elementary school counselor had to split her time between multiple school sites to fulfill her student-to-counselor ratio. John was lost in the shuffle of hundreds of other children.
Also, teachers educated about mental health can create a supportive classroom environment where students feel safe discussing their feelings and seeking help if needed. This can contribute to a positive school culture that prioritizes mental wellness and ensures all students get the help they need.