Portantino Shines Light on Student Mental Health / Introduces Comprehensive Bill to Address Training & Absence Sensitivity

Tuesday, December 8 2020

Sacramento, California State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) has introduced SB 14 to significantly improve mental health training for school employees and improve health outcomes for our students. SB 14 would require that a proportion of each school’s staff and teachers be trained in evidence-based training programs such as Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA). YMHFA is a comprehensive training designed to equip educators with the skills and knowledge to identify and respond to the signs or risk factors of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth. The provisions of SB 14 will help to destigmatize mental illness and disability while providing teachers with the support and training they need to serve their students more competently. SB 14 also would also align mental health and behavioral health with physical health as it pertains to excused absences.  It seeks to ensure that students suffering from mental health issues are treated the same as students with physical health problems.  

 

“Far too many of our children are struggling with stress, depression, and other mental health needs and we need to bring the discussion out of the shadows.  Our challenges have become even more apparent during the pandemic. We must use this time before the complete reopening of our schools to increase mental health training to well-position our campuses to meet this growing issue head on, which is the best way to destigmatize mental health and get students in need the care they deserve.  I am excited to be collaborating with a broad coalition of mental health organizations who support this effort,” commented Senator Portantino. 

 

SB 14 continues the Senator’s dedication to improving youth mental health outcomes. The Senator previously authored bills such as SB 972  requiring schools to print the suicide hotline on student identification cards. Additionally, the Senator worked extremely hard over the course of three years to pass SB 328 to push back start times for middle schools and high schools. Scientific data and research shows that later school start times lead to improved mental health for kids, with reductions in instances of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Mental health issues have become a crisis for the state of California and the Senator will continue to passionately advocate for this vulnerable group. For his work, Senator Portantino received the Children’s Hero Award by the California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

 

“The California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies (CBHA) and our coalition partners are proud to endorse SB 14 authored by State Senator Anthony Portantino. One in six high school students report having considered suicide in the past year, while one in three LGBTQ students have had suicidal thoughts. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, youth mental and behavioral health needs to be a primary focus to protect and promote the wellbeing of our students. This legislation will provide teachers and students with vital knowledge and skills needed to support their students and peers who are experiencing a behavioral health challenge. COVID-19 has elevated the need to strengthen school-based partnerships, and SB # is an essential step in ensuring students have a safe and supportive educational environment as they transition to hybrid learning environments,” said Dr. Le Ondra Clark Harvey, Chief Executive Officer.

 

Sponsors for the bill include the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, and NextGen. Other supporters include the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions, Turning Point Community Programs, Community Solutions, Sow a Seed Community Foundation and Hathaway Sycamores.