During a recent meeting of the Senate Committee on School Climate and Student Safety, Kim Griffin, Project Director at the Los Angeles County Office of Education's Mental Health and School Counseling Unit, addressed the pressing issue of student mental health. Griffin highlighted a significant rise in mental health challenges among students, attributing these issues to factors such as isolation, discrimination, unrealistic social standards, bullying, and chronic stressors like food and housing insecurity.

Griffin emphasized the importance of protective factors that can foster resilience in students, including supportive relationships, physical activity, and emotional regulation skills. She advocated for a multi-tiered system of support in schools, which focuses not only on students with diagnosed mental health disorders but also on early identification and prevention strategies for all students experiencing difficulties.

Key recommendations included the implementation of comprehensive policies addressing bullying, suicide prevention, and crisis response, alongside training for school staff to ensure effective protocol execution. Griffin also stressed the need for mental health literacy among staff, students, and caregivers to reduce stigma and promote early intervention.

Peer-to-peer outreach was identified as a valuable method for encouraging help-seeking behaviors and developing healthy coping strategies. Griffin noted the effectiveness of social-emotional learning (SEL) programs in enhancing student resilience and well-being, while also reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms.

To further improve school climate, Griffin suggested enhancing connectedness among students, staff, and parents through positive communication, student involvement in activities, and restorative practices. She concluded by acknowledging the importance of supporting educators' well-being, as their mental health directly impacts student outcomes. The meeting underscored a collective commitment to fostering a supportive environment for both students and staff in schools.