L.A. Supes Boost Mental Health Funds for Schools

Mental health issues pose a growing problem for America’s youth and the Los Angeles County education system is no exception. From 2005 to 2017, depression rates among 12 to 17 year olds increased 52%. During a recent visit to a local middle school, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner learned that 125 out of 1,000 children had experienced suicidal thoughts and 25 had to be hospitalized.

Recently, L.A. County supervisors approved a $17.4 million package to address the youth mental health crisis. The money will fund more mental health resources, including counseling teams, at LAUSD and L.A. County Office of Education campuses.

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl called the county’s funding for LAUSD “kind of unprecedented.” Under the plan, LAUSD will receive about $9.7 million. It also calls for the creation of a pilot program to teach kids how to support friends and peers who are struggling with mental health difficulties.

Read more at the Daily News.