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Mental Health Recommendations

What is the purpose?

The purpose of the campaign is to ensure that California educators and leaders recognize the importance of students’ mental wellbeing and create policies, systems, and resources that support it.

The toolkit emphasizes that:

  • students understand their own needs best,

  • students must be included in creating educational reforms,

  • and addressing mental health is a first step toward addressing achievement gaps and educational inequities.

The ultimate goal is to provide districts with a list of student-informed recommendations and work collaboratively to implement them.

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What does the campaign look like?

1. Gather Student Input

The first stage is listening to students.

Chapters:

  • conduct widely disseminated surveys,

  • collect feedback on emotional health, peer relationships, academic workload, and mental health challenges,

  • and may host forums or listening sessions to hear directly from students.

The toolkit emphasizes reaching as many students in the district as possible so recommendations reflect broad student voice.

2. Develop Recommendations

After gathering data, chapters work with:

  • district mental health specialists,

  • school psychologists,

  • counselors,

  • researchers,

  • and community mental health organizations

to transform student feedback into relevant recommendations and policies.

Examples include:

Legislative Actions

Supporting policies such as:

  • SB 14 (mental health days and staff training),

  • AB 58 (suicide prevention plans),

  • AB 988 (988 crisis hotline),

  • SB 224 (mental health education in schools).

District Actions: Training and Support

Examples include:

  • regular mental health surveys,

  • hiring more counselors and psychologists,

  • trauma-informed training,

  • peer-to-peer counseling,

  • grief support,

  • restorative conflict mediation,

  • and implementing MTSS frameworks.

District Actions: Resources and Relief

Examples include:

  • printing hotline numbers on student IDs,

  • creating Wellness Centers,

  • hosting Wellness Weeks,

  • mental health workshops,

  • and educational webinars.

Wellness Center

3. Present to District Stakeholders

Once recommendations are finalized, chapters present them to key decision-makers such as:

  • superintendents,

  • school board trustees,

  • principals,

  • PTA leaders,

  • union leaders,

  • and elected officials.

School Board

The toolkit recommends:

  • a 20-minute presentation,

  • breakout room discussions,

  • and collaborative dialogue to determine which recommendations move forward.

How can my chapter or I get involved? 

If you are interested in this campaign, please read this toolkit.

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