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PAUSD reports rising wellness-center use, persistent belonging gaps for gender-diverse students
Summary
Director Dawn Yoshinaga told the board wellness centers recorded more than 12,000 visits this year, formal therapy referrals now serve about 6% of the district (nearly 9% at elementary), and listening sessions show gains overall but persistent belonging gaps for gender-diverse and other student groups.
Dawn Yoshinaga, PAUSD director of mental health and wellness, presented the district’s annual mental-health update to the board, highlighting increased site-based mental-health use and areas needing targeted support.
Yoshinaga said the district’s wellness centers recorded more than 12,000 visits across secondary sites this year, that the district’s clinical team now includes 39 therapists (17 licensed clinicians and 22 associates), and that formal therapy referrals now reach about 6% of the district—with elementary referrals approaching 9%. "Our wellness centers have had over 12,000 total visits across secondary sites this year," Yoshinaga said, adding that high-school visits have already surpassed last year’s totals.
Survey and listening-session results show measurable gains since fall, but gaps remain. Elementary belonging rose by 6 percentage points; teacher-student relationships improved; but gender-diverse students report belonging scores 21–25 points below the district average at secondary levels. Yoshinaga said the district will focus next year on student identity and belonging, mental-health literacy and suicide-prevention training, system resources and staff wellness.
Trustees pressed staff on outreach to students who do not actively seek help, the logistics of large-scale training, and follow-up for suicide-postvention anniversaries. Staff said they are expanding partnerships with community groups for on-site supports and piloting evidence-based student trainings.
Public commenters and student speakers urged more identity-affirming supports and targeted small-group services for neurodiverse, Latinx and LGBTQ+ students.
Next steps: staff will continue implementing listening sessions, expand suicide-prevention training for staff and secondary students, and prioritize targeted support for groups showing persistent belonging gaps.
