STUDENT HEALTH
VCOE’s Comprehensive Health and Prevention Programs department supports school districts with the administration of the California Healthy Kids Survey, an anonymous student survey that is given every other year. The most recent survey of over 27,000 Ventura County students in grades 6 through 12 revealed a significant reduction in the percentage of students reporting that they experience chronic sadness or hopelessness and have considered suicide. Positive Trends in Student Wellbeing These reductions are particularly striking considering that student mental health needs increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey results suggest that efforts to respond to the increased need for wellness support are making a real difference. Over the last five years, VCOE has been working with Ventura County school districts to create prevention and intervention services. Many of the initiatives have included increased screening for mental health needs and improved access to community mental health services. We have also been training students so they can better support their peers and providing enhanced instruction for staff members to increase
awareness about mental health, stigma reduction and discrimination. Students participate in a drum circle as one part of a Wellness Peer Training held at the Ventura County Office of Education The Wellness Centers that have opened at schools across the county are a prime example of the new ways schools are promoting student wellbeing. In the last school year, there were more than 53,000 student visits to Wellness Center resources countywide. There were also more than 1,400 confirmed connections to student and family services. While the new survey results are encouraging, it’s important to recognize that 30% of students still struggle with chronic sadness or hopelessness, and more than one in ten students in Ventura County have considered suicide. This demonstrates a need for a continued focus on health and wellness in schools. Ventura County schools have benefited from recent state initiatives to fund health and wellness efforts; however, these funding sources are ending over the next two years. Moving forward, schools will look for new ways to sustain these programs, which have benefited so many students. The positive trends in the California Healthy Kids Survey confirm the impact of health and wellness efforts and demonstrate a need for an ongoing focus on student wellbeing. As we continue to build on this momentum, we are dedicated to ensuring that every student thrives in a healthy and supportive environ- ment that maximizes their ability to learn and grow. For more information about VCOE's Comprehensive Health and Prevention programs, please visit vcoe.org/health .
California Healthy Kids Survey Ventura County 2017-2024
Grades 6-12 Chronic Sadness/Hopelessness Considered Suicide
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
37%
37%
31%
30%
18%
17%
17%
11%
2017/18
2019/20
2021/22
2023/24
16 ● VCOE EDUCATION REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY
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