The number of teens with depression or other mental health disorders continues to grow at concerning rates despite the mental health presentations that the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) requires that schools have.
In Los Angeles alone, one in three (31%) adolescents between 12–17 suffered from a mental or behavioral health condition in the past year. In comparison to the approximately 8% rise in major depressive episodes among American teens between 2006 and 2007, more than 18% of adolescent teens developed major depressive episodes between 2022 and 2023.
The kinds of students found to be most susceptible to depression-related emotions in California are those who are less connected to their school environment. An astonishing 56% of students who feel they have a low level of connection to their school have depression-related emotions. It is important to increase school connectedness to create a safer and more inclusive environment for students.
The stigma around mental health in schools also creates a self-deprecating environment, not only because of prejudice and discrimination from outside sources, but also from self-stigma. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the internalization of public stigma causes self-esteem to decrease, causing more damage to students with mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder. This prompts not only the idea to promote school connectivity but also personal empowerment.
According to the California Department of Public Health, programs that focus on “strengths, resiliency, equity, and prevention” are proven to improve adolescent mental health. In the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s “Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders,” the steps to decrease depression and suicide rates schools should take are to increase mental health literacy, promote mindfulness and social, emotional and behavioral learning, enhance connectedness among students, staff and families, provide psychosocial skills training and support staff well-being. By implementing these strategies, LAUSD could greatly improve the mental health of both staff and students.
The steps taken in LAUSD schools today, however effective they are meant to be, are barely making a dent in the looming issue of declining mental health in teens. In September, schools held presentations for Suicide Prevention Month, hoping to educate students about suicide prevention and provide resources for support. Still, however, 15.8% of students in Los Angeles County have seriously considered or attempted suicide. In addition, the district cut funding to mental health personnel, reducing the amount of time the school psychologist and social worker can work at school to only one or two days per week.
To improve mental health across Los Angeles, the school district must treat mental health as a higher priority, introducing programs that not only focus on making resources available but also attack the root causes of depressive disorders. Increasing school connectedness, promoting personal empowerment and taking all of the steps toward creating a healthier environment is the course of action LAUSD needs to take to start increasing mental health in students.
