At the start of the school year and as a direct response to the rising mental health challenges faced by students, San Diego schools are implementing a new program aimed at expanding mental health support through the introduction of certified wellness coaches. This initiative comes as part of California’s broader efforts to address the alarming mental health crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kaleb Coleman, an eighth grader at Wangenheim Middle School, shared his struggles with stress, particularly during times of academic pressure or personal issues at home. “I might be really stressed out and scared to go to that class because I don’t know if I’m going to have a breakdown,” he admitted. Coleman noted the difficulties he faced in accessing counseling services, highlighting the overwhelming demand for mental health support in schools. “At the school I was before, there was like only one counselor, and they were always busy,” he explained.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by the state’s student-to-counselor ratio, which stood at 464 to 1 last school year—almost double the recommended standard set by the American School Counselor Association. To combat this shortage, California has launched a state-funded wellness coach program designed to alleviate some of the burdens on school counselors and social workers.
Ben Gamache, who works for the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, emphasized the critical need for enhanced mental health services for children and youth. “There is a serious need right now for mental health services for our children and youth. And we saw that really exacerbated after the pandemic,” he stated.
This wellness coach initiative is part of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids Mental Health and the state’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. The state has allocated $338 million to develop and implement this new behavioral health profession, aiming to address the mental health challenges faced by students across California.
The San Diego Unified School District has received nearly $950,000 to fund ten wellness coaches. Danielle Octon, one of the wellness coaches, works primarily with high school students, noting that common issues include anxiety, stress, time management, and even suicidal ideation. “What they mostly come in for is a lot of anxiety, stress, time management, lack of motivation, and depression,” Octon shared.
Wangenheim Middle School, which serves over 700 students, will share a wellness coach with two neighboring schools. Principal Matt Fallon expressed optimism about the program, stating, “There are times in which counselors aren’t available. So having a wellness coach here would help maintain a consistent offering of support for all of our kids.”
As mental health challenges continue to rise among students, the integration of wellness coaches into San Diego schools represents a proactive step towards fostering a more supportive environment for youth. By addressing mental health needs, schools hope to create a foundation of resilience and well-being for their students.
Wellbeing Services that may be of interest:
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Allied Health School Services Program – Parents workshop (90 mins)
In 2023, ISS and OST Therapy launched the Allied Health School Services Program. The AHSS team offers personalized workshops for parents, focusing on speech/language skills, cognitive play, behaviour management, and building resilience. These workshops provide practical strategies to help parents support their child’s development and create a positive home environment.
Caritas – Counselling Services
Caritas Human Empowerment & Achievement Training (HEAT) offers counseling for marital issues, extra-marital affairs, divorce, and marriage enrichment. Services include family mediation, sex therapy, support for family conflicts, and therapy for emotional, behavioural, and learning issues in children, as well as mood, stress, anxiety, and trauma.
Health & Wellbeing – Deck of cards
Dr. Christopher Willard’s mindfulness decks offer exercises for emotional well-being, including *Mindful Parenting*, *Self-Love*, and tools for teens to manage depression, anxiety, and build resilience. Each deck provides practical mindfulness strategies for emotional growth and mental health at every life stage.
Health & Wellbeing Videos
Unlock mindfulness and communication skills with expert-led courses. Topics include fostering positive family dialogue, boosting academic performance through mindfulness, and age-specific practices for preschoolers, primary students, and teens, promoting focus, emotional balance, and resilience.
iLiving: Initial 90-minute Consultation with Supported Healing for Children
iLiving is a holistic wellness centre that offers integrated services for personal transformation. They provide a comprehensive approach to address both physical and mental health, focusing on modalities like bioresonance, life coaching, family constellations, and more to help clients achieve optimal well-being. This consultation includes health scan of a child who is suffering from chronic physical or mental health challenge and coaching to their caretaker/parent(s).
KFBG Transformative and Mindfulness Forest Immersion Walk
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) delivers inspiring, awareness-shifting and transformative programmes with potential life-changing experiences. We offer an opportunity and a peaceful space in the natural environment of KFBG for participants to experience, to rethink, to identify and to be able to deeply connect and appreciate Gaia, our mother Earth, and the interconnection and interrelationship that we share with her. By being close to, and having a respect for nature, through our transformative workshops, people can experience a sense of deep happiness and spiritual contentment in which could facilitate a more holistic way of living.
Llegend – Diploma in Professional Aromatherapy
This aromatherapy course covers essential oils, anatomy, and therapeutic applications, combining theory and practice. Accredited by the IFA, it offers exemptions for the UK TQUK Level 4 Certificate. As Hong Kong’s leading college for aromatherapy, it boasts 7 international accreditations.
Therapy Services – 1 on 1 Offline Therapy Service
In 2023, ISS and OST Therapy launched the Allied Health School Services Program. Our certified speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists offer personalized therapy for speech, language, motor skills, emotional regulation, and self-care. We use evidence-based practices to support students’ academic and social growth, boosting confidence and promoting inclusive learning environments.
Wellbeing Books Series
Dr. Willard’s books blend mindfulness with practical approaches for families. Alphabreaths teaches kids mindfulness through ABC-themed breathing exercises, while Growing Up Mindful offers parents and educators tools to help children build resilience, self-awareness, and empathy through mindfulness.
References:
- KPBS. (2024). San Diego schools expand mental health support with wellness coaches. Retrieved from KPBS
- American School Counselor Association. (2022-2023). Student-to-School-Counselor Ratio. Retrieved from ASCA
- Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health. (2022). Retrieved from California Government
