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.
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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
