California Students Struggle with Mental Health Post-Pandemic

When schools shuttered five years ago, many students like Benjamin Olaniyi turned to their phones to find connection during a profoundly unsettling and isolating time.

‘Social media made us feel more connected with the world,’ said Olaniyi, a junior at King/Drew Medical Magnet High School in Los Angeles.

The pandemic struck in the spring of his sixth-grade year, causing him to miss a school camping trip he had looked forward to. He recalls a sense of unity online during those early days amid the uncertainty and fear.

People feared an unknown disease, isolated profound loneliness, economic instability, and grief for family members taken by the virus. Young people logged on to share how they felt about their experiences: the loneliness, hopelessness, and fear of losing loved ones.

This openness to discuss mental health on social media ‘probably made us more aware of mental health struggles that previous generations wouldn’t have been exposed to,’ Olaniyi stated.

The initial years of the pandemic were a turning point for mainstream conversations about students’ mental health and wellness. Both students and educators recognized the rising issues of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges stemming from Covid-19.

Data from the California Healthy Kids Survey indicated a sharp increase in reported hopelessness among students, with 42% of 11th graders citing chronic sadness, up from 32% four years earlier.

Dr. Ijeoma Ijeaku, president of the California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, noted, ‘It has forced us to look at our mental health in a way we had never looked at it before.’

She praised Generation Z for their honesty about mental health, saying, ‘They said, “Yes, it’s OK to not be OK.”’

Five years post-pandemic, discussions on mental health among students, educators, and policymakers have changed significantly. Experts acknowledge the progress made with policy changes and extensive state funding initiated in response to the crisis.

‘So much of the infrastructure is really enduring past the pandemic,’ said Kendra Fehrer, founder of Heartwise Learning, who consulted on enhancing mental health services for students.

Pandemic’s Unequal Effects

Medical professionals have become more vocal about the mental health crisis among children, particularly highlighting how students in high-poverty communities and students of color have faced more severe challenges.

A declaration from the American Academy of Pediatrics highlighted the growing mental health issues exacerbated by the pandemic, particularly among communities of color.

Dr. Ijeaku remarked that the pandemic revealed how health disparities are often determined by ZIP codes rather than genetics.

Meanwhile, wealthy teens, who enjoyed more space and privacy during the pandemic, fared better. In contrast, underprivileged teens experienced greater challenges due to overcrowded living conditions and limited access to resources.

Schools have increasingly recognized the importance of mental health in educational success. Loretta Whitson of the California Association of School Counselors remarked, ‘Teachers are asking for more support from counselors and other mental health professionals.’

State Invests Billions in Mental Health

Historically, school counselors, psychologists, and social workers often faced budget cuts during financial crises.

Whitson conveyed, ‘The rest of education caught a cold; we caught pneumonia,’ but emphasized that attitudes and infrastructure, especially the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, have evolved positively.

The initiative, launched in 2021, allocates $4 billion over five years for students under 26, opening avenues for on-campus mental health billing through insurance.

Whitson noted, ‘We’re trying to fully employ people on school campuses that are going to be focused on children’s mental and behavioral well-being.’

However, upcoming challenges loom as potential Medicaid cuts could jeopardize this progress.

California’s school counselor ratio remains high at 1 per 400 students, well above the recommended 250 by the American School Counselor Association.

Yet, current job cuts haven’t disproportionately affected counseling staff, a stark contrast to the experiences of the Great Recession in 2009.

California continues to expand health services in low-income neighborhoods through its Community Schools Partnership Program, building on early post-pandemic efforts.

Fehrer commended state initiatives but acknowledged that transforming school cultures requires more than just legislation: ‘The hardest stuff to change is stuff you can’t legislate.’

‘Coalition of the Willing’

Fehrer described a significant transformation occurring across schools in wealthier areas and underserved communities, coining it a ‘coalition of the willing.’

School counselor Alexis Mele from Laguna Beach High School highlighted her district’s support for counselors, essential in fostering student growth and well-being.

Mele reflected on the transformative nature of her work, stating, ‘That student was sitting at home this morning, waking up feeling like, “This isn’t going to be a good day, but I can go to the office and talk to Miss Mele and that might help.” And that to me is everything.’