Issue Brief: Tele Mental Health in California Schools

Executive Summary

California children and youth are experiencing a mental health crisis, and ensuring that they have access to quality mental health care through different modalities and in various settings is critical. This issue brief summarizes recent telehealth and youth mental health policy development and discusses the survey result of the use of telehealth in providing mental health services for children and youth in California schools in 2020-2021. Through this brief, the author will also provide policy makers, advocates, and state agencies another perspective of the challenges and needs young people are facing in receiving mental health care in California and additional recommendations.