FRESNO, Calif. Gavin Newsom, his wife, and a series of local and state authorities met at McLane High School in Fresno to announce measures and actions that guarantee access to mental health for all Californians under the age of 25.
The state president explained that 4.7 billion dollars will be allocated to provide specialized personnel to California schools, so that children and young people in the state can access mental health professionals early.
The so-called Children’s Mental Health Master Plan will add some 40,000 new mental health workers, with the goal of ensuring necessary medical care for parents and children.
The resources are intended to create a virtual platform where those seeking mental health help can be assessed and treated. The plan is focused on providing psycho-social care to children between 0 and 25 years of age.
During the press conference, the testimony of a student who suffered from depression in her fifth and sixth grades was one of the emotional moments of the announcement.
And it is that nationally, children report symptoms of depression and anxiety at a record rate, in addition to warning levels historical levels in those who consider suicide. In California, regarding a third of 7th and 9th graders, and half of 11th graders, experienced chronic sadness in the 2020-2021 school year.
On the other hand, suicide rates for California youth ages 10 to 18 increased 20% from 2019 to 2020.
“Mental and behavioral health is one of the greatest challenges of our time. While other states take away resources to support children’s mental health, California is doubling down.”
Gavin Newsom highlighted the importance of talking regarding these issues, discussing them and confronting them. “We have a fragmented system,” said the governor, emphasizing treating the brain healthily, so as not to punish it later.
“We are investing billions of dollars to ensure that all California children have better access to comprehensive mental health and substance abuse services.
This means physical health plans, and more counselors, psychologists and social workers in California schools.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Newsom acknowledged, while praising the work being done at McLane High School in Fresno, where they have a large team to address mental health issues, including three nurses.
Over the past decade, the Fresno Unified School District has grown its mental health staff from 50 to more than 200 professionals.
