AEF Helps Fund Mental Health Support for Students

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but we don’t need a special month to tell us that our children are in crisis. Since 2017, rates of anxiety and depression among California’s children have shot up by 70% and one-third of California adolescents experienced serious psychological distress between 2019 and 2021, including a 20% increase in adolescent suicides.

But thanks to generous AEF donors, AEF is able to help provide vital support for our students, staff, and their families. Learn more about that support – and other efforts to help out students – by reading our interview with AUSD’s Coordinator of Student Support Services, Jodi McCarthy.

AEF: What is the state of mental health in today’s children and youth?
JM: We have a lot of data regarding how AUSD students are doing thanks to our Wellness Survey that we began during COVID. It is a tool that we use to check in with all of our students, and we have found it very helpful in connecting students with the resources that they need. Approximately 3 out of 5 students are reporting struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, or feelings of sadness. Additionally, when we gave the survey the first week of May, 355 students admitted to suicidal ideation (when one thinks about killing themselves) sometimes, often, or always.

AEF: How has our students’ mental health changed since COVID?
JM: COVID has increased mental health challenges for all of our youth.

AEF: How do the results differ among the grade levels?
JM: Mental health concerns are across ALL grade levels. Data from the first part of the year from Alameda Family Services (AUSD contracts with Alameda Family Services to provide behavioral health support for all schools) shows that there are significant numbers of students in high school, middle school, and elementary school who are struggling with mental health issues.

AEF: What are the primary areas of concern:
JM: Anxiety/stress is #1 across all grade levels. Other themes include: Depression/Suicidal Ideation (#2 at the high school level and also present at middle and elementary grade levels), Family Issues (#3 at all grade levels), Trauma (all grade levels), Identity (all grade levels), and Peer Issues (high school and elementary school).

AEF: Tell us about AUSD’s approach to providing mental health supports for students.
JM: We contract with Alameda Family Services to provide behavioral health support for all of our schools (TK-12). We teach Teen Mental Health First Aid at our high schools. We have a complete list of mental health resources, including signs to look for, resources, and hotlines, on the AUSD website. And thanks to AEF, we offer Care Solace for all students, staff, and families.

AEF: Tell us more about Care Solace.
JM: Care Solace is an online resource with live 24/7 staffing to assist individuals in finding local mental health-related programs and counseling services. The proprietary care navigation system taps into a vast database of mental healthcare resources to find carefully vetted local therapists and programs in minutes.

AEF: What are the benefits of Care Solace?
JM: Care Solace offers families a real solution and a way to connect with a mental health or counseling provider. Too often people start the journey of trying to find someone to talk to, and they give up because it requires so much effort and energy. If you are having a mental health challenge, it is impossible to maintain the momentum of seeking help.

AEF: AEF began sponsoring Care Solace for AUSD in 2020. What have been the results to date?
JM: So far, there have been over 400 cases of clients finding care, with thousands more searches and inquiries. Our families have been really grateful for the support that Care Solace offers. Staff have also really been thankful that they are able to make referrals to ensure that students and families are supported.

AEF: Finally, why did you approach AEF about supporting this important mental health resource?
JM: AEF has been such an amazing partner to AUSD. This is not an expense that AUSD can manage. Education funding is not stable and AEF is a partner that keeps students and families in the center of everything that they do. I can’t express enough gratitude for helping with the heavy lift of mental health support.

What a difference AEF donors! Please consider a donation today consider a donation today to help keep vital mental health care services available to our students and families!