State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is asking principals to complete the Mental Health Professional and Student Mental Health Needs Survey by April 29. The survey deadline has been extended to allow more administrators to participate.

This brief, confidential online survey will gather information to better understand the mental health needs, necessary supports, and available services for students.

This information will be particularly helpful for plans to recruit 10,000 mental health clinicians to support California students.

Thurmond has sponsored legislation that calls on the California Legislature and the governor to invest up to $25,000 per applicant in scholarships for future clinicians.

Even before the pandemic, California was experiencing a shortage of mental health counselors to serve California students, especially in rural areas that often have barriers to health care access. The need for these clinicians has grown with the rise in depression among children in the U.S. in the pandemic period. Additionally, student mental health problems and conditions, including depression, anxiety and general distress, are increasing as natural disasters such as wildfires and floods affect more California communities and schools each year.

This survey is administered by the University of California, San Francisco, with support from the California Department of Education’s Project Cal-Well mental health initiative. Confidentiality is critical; therefore, survey responses will be kept private by the UCSF team. The CDE, your staff, students, their parents, and other schools will not see your individual survey responses.

Complete the 10-minute survey online at https://bit.ly/3EfmjdT.