Portantino’s Bill Requiring Mental Health Training for School Teachers and Schools Staff Passes Senate Education Committee

The Senate Education Committee approved SB 387, a measure authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D –Pasadena) which requires evidence-based mental health training for school staff.

“SB 387 is more important than ever, as schools are transitioning to in-person learning and teachers are encountering student behavioral health issues resulting from the emotional impact of the pandemic,” Portantino said. “The reality is that when students return to school, their trauma and depression return with them. If we don’t train teachers and staff – who are on the frontlines of this crisis, they will be left without the tools they need to help identify student mental health needs.”

California is in the midst of a youth behavioral health crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Distance learning increased isolation and disengaged many students with depression symptoms at an all-time high. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 1 in 3 California high school students surveyed reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks in a row. Nearly 1 in 5 reported that they have seriously considered attempting suicide.

While existing law calls upon the California Department of Education to identify an evidence-based mental health training program, it does not mandate that schools establish a training program for their staff. SB 387 helps address this problem by requiring the California Department of Education to ensure that 75 percent of classified and certificated employees on school campuses complete an evidence-based behavioral health training program. Mandating an evidence-based training program will provide essential instruction on how students, teachers, school staff can best provide referrals to mental health services, substance use disorder services, or other support to individuals in crisis.

A coalition of behavioral health professionals and mental health advocates have sponsored SB 387: the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies, the California Student Board Member Association, Disability Rights California, Generation Up, Inc., and Inseparable.

Last year, Portantino authored SB 14 and SB 224, which address the growing mental health crisis among California’s youth by implementing mental health education and training in schools. Governor Newsom signed both measures into law. The Senator also previously authored SB 972, a measure that required schools to print the suicide hotline on student identification cards. Additionally, the Senator dedicated three years to pass SB 328, which pushes back school start times for middle and high schools.