Mental Well-Being for student success

The Issue

Half of mental health issues begin by age 14.

According to a 2015 report on Student Mental Health in California’s K-12 Schools:

• More than three-quarters of the principals who responded to the survey—across all school levels—cited students' “social, emotional, and mental health” as a moderate or severe problem at their schools.

• Over 60% of high school principals reported “student depression” as a moderate or severe problem among their students.

In a recent survey of students in high school districts across California, students expressed that they were overwhelmed with school work, the well-being of their families, general uncertainty, and missing out on their high school experience.  Prior to the pandemic, 22% of students reported receiving mental health services. By the time of the survey, that number had increased to 54%.

In a national survey conducted by the organization Active Minds, 8 in 10 high school and college students reported struggling with focusing on school or work and avoiding distractions.