Dr. Michelle Nealon sheds light on youth mental health crisis response
SACRAMENTO, March 23, 2022 (Globe Newswire) — The need to respond quickly to California’s youth mental health crisis is today highlighted by Dr. Michelle Nealon, Psy.D., president of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology (based in L.A.). addressed. As she testified on Senate Bill 1302 before the State Senate Education Committee in Sacramento.
Dr. Nealon, whose graduate program trains nearly one in ten new psychologists in the state, spoke on the need for a $1 billion initiative proposed by state Sen. Anthony J. Portantino (De-La Canada Flintridge), which focuses on mental health. will provide grants for Help centers on high school campuses.
The bill, introduced earlier this year, comes on the heels of wider mental health challenges, such as pandemic segregation, racial violence and war in Ukraine, resulting in rising incidences of depression, anxiety and suicide among youth.
“Our children are in crisis – and we must begin to address their mental health needs or face the consequences of a generation of adults who will suffer physically and emotionally for years,” Dr. Neilon said. “Addressing youth’s mental health early is an investment in our future.”
According to San Portantino, schools are a logical place for youth to seek help. “Teachers and administrators are overwhelmed and students need access to mental health resources now more than ever. SB 1302 addresses this issue and is essential to the long-term well-being and academic success of our students,” he added.
“Studies show that most students are not currently receiving the care they need,” San Portantino said. “More than three out of four principals reported that students’ emotional and mental health needs were a problem, and two out of three teachers said they were incapable of dealing with their students’ mental health.”
A 2020 report from the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission found that one in three high school students reported feeling depressed and hopeless for a long period of time, with LGBT students making up more than half. One in six high school students contemplated suicide in the past year and one in three LGBT students reported.
SB 1302 will use $1 billion to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for an annual grant of up to $250,000 to each high school to establish or improve student welfare centers. The bill would require grant money to provide comprehensive medical and behavioral health services, including activities that will help students stay healthy in body, mind and spirit to learn successfully.
About the Chicago School of Occupational Psychology
Integrating theory with practical experience, the Chicago School of Professional Psychology provides an education rooted in innovation, service, and commitment to community to thousands of diverse students across the United States and globally. Established in 1979, the non-profit, regionally accredited university now features campuses in prestigious locations nationwide (Chicago, Southern California, Washington, DC, New Orleans, Dallas) and online. To make a positive difference in the world where it matters most, the Chicago School continues to expand its educational offerings beyond the field of psychology to offer 30 degrees in the professional fields of healthcare, nursing, education, counseling, business and More than a certificate can be offered. , even more. Through its professional model of education, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and an extensive network of domestic and international professional partnerships, Chicago School students receive real-world training opportunities that reflect their future careers. The Chicago School is also a proud affiliate of TCS, a non-profit system of colleges that advances student success and community impact. To learn more, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu.
CONTACT: Victor Abalos The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (213) 615-7270 [email protected]
