School-Based Health Centers, 988, and the Youth Mental Health Crisis

Here are three articles that we recommend reading if you’d like to learn more about the stories that inspire and drive us:

“School-based centers can transform health care for California's children”

This opinion piece from Ed Source talks about the importance of school-based health centers.

School-based health centers increase early prevention of health crises, encourage healthy habits, and equalize learning environments through equal access to healthcare. These centers also grow school attendance and connect with families from marginalized communities. California’s government has still not funded the implementation of these centers, but it is imperative that these centers become the norm in schools.

“The new 988 mental health hotline is live. Here's what to know”

This article from NPR discusses the details of the new 9-8-8 crisis number. The U.S. Department of Health and Human services just launched this number to differentiate and streamline suicide prevention calls. 988 connects those struggling with suicidal thoughts with mental health crisis centers, bypassing the holds and lines that people previously had to deal with when they called 911.

This also ensures that people with mental illnesses are helped by mental health caregivers who approach situations with a mindset of de-escalation and sensitivity. The Biden administration is funding the hotline and affiliated crisis centers with $432 million. Hopefully, the implementation of 988 will institute and normalize “in-person crisis help” for those who need it most.

“'Youth are in crisis': Mental health of US high school students worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic, CDC survey finds”

This story from CNN calls attention to the youth mental crisis. The pandemic has caused mental health duress for many, especially high school students. A CDC survey reports that queer and female students have felt disconnected from their peers due to online schooling and subsequent restrictions. Many Asian and Black students reported experiencing racism due to misinformation about the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Overall performances in school have been poorer than before the pandemic; students’ strained mental health affects every aspect of their lives.

CFA has an important task in front of us: to fight for students’ mental health in the face of a mental health crisis. More than ever, it is crucial to raise awareness of the severity of this crisis and to instill hope in students for their futures.