Poway Unified panel says early intervention, screening and school programs key as student mental‑health struggles persist

Poway Unified district leaders and regional mental‑health partners on a community panel described rising levels of student distress, outlined school‑based screening and prevention efforts, and urged families to act early when they see warning signs.

"Events like tonight are really important because they help to eradicate stigma, foster more open dialogue, cultivate empathy and understanding and extend support to individuals and families who are struggling," said Greg Miselle, the district's Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services, who opened the panel and summarized district screening data.

Miselle told attendees the district administers a universal mental‑health screener each fall and spring to fourth, sixth and ninth graders. He said the district’s students scored in the 0–19th percentile nationally on a measure of school belonging during the 2022–23 school year but added that intentional staff efforts have produced modest gains, with a rise from 42% to 48% this fall.

The panel cited national trends from the Centers for Disease Control showing that about 40% of high‑school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. "This is a mental‑health crisis in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control," Miselle said.

County and community presenters laid out practical steps for families and schools. Heather Neore of the San Diego County Office of Education said mental health exists on a continuum and urged adults to normalize conversations. "Everyone has mental health every day," Neore said, adding that nonjudgmental listening and asking simple conversation starters can help families notice early changes.

Katherine ("Cat") Torres, program manager for Lifeline Community Services' Here and Now school program, emphasized that many youths who die by suicide show warning signs beforehand. "The majority of people who die by suicide do show warning signs prior," Torres said, and she described the program's in‑school presentations, immediate check‑ins and safety‑planning process.

Panelists outlined resources available to students and families, including peer programs such as Hope Squad and Bring Change to Mind, county‑created teen guides and mobile apps such as MindShift. They also emphasized crisis options: the San Diego Access Crisis Line, the nationwide 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ youth.

Speakers stressed practical parental actions: monitor sleep and social withdrawal over time, remove access to lethal means when risk is identified, and seek help from school counselors and health providers. "Asking for help is a sign of courage," Neore said.

Miselle closed by stressing the district's early‑intervention approach and announcing a student panel planned for Mental Health Awareness Month in May as a next step for peer‑led discussion.