OAKLAND, California, Dec. 2, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — There is a mental health crisis among California’s youth. Studies show up to one in five students in the U.S. has a serious mental health need, yet in California too few of those affected receive the help they need.^1,2

To address this issue, Blue Shield of California is launching BlueSky, a multi-year effort in collaboration with the California Department of Education and nonprofit organizations such as Wellness Together, National Alliance on Mental Illness California and DoSomething.org.

The goal of the initiative is to enhance awareness, advocacy and access to mental health resources for California’s middle- and high school students. The Blue Shield of California BlueSky initiative will provide additional mental health clinicians in schools, train teachers on the signs of mental health issues, and empower students with in-person and online mental health support resources.

“Mental and emotional health play an essential role in a person’s overall well-being, starting in childhood,” said Paul Markovich, president and CEO of Blue Shield of California. “We all face adversity, yet each person’s future depends on his or her ability to cope with life’s challenges. Our goal through Blue Shield of California BlueSky is to help students develop the resilience and emotional well-being today that will give them a lifetime of good health.”

How Blue Shield of California BlueSky Supports Student Mental Health
The BlueSky initiative addresses mental health for middle- and high school students in California through a combination of school-level services and statewide initiatives, including:

One-on-one therapy for students most in need
Through the work of nonprofit Wellness Together, Blue Shield of California BlueSky will bring additional mental health clinicians into schools to enhance access to care. This service is launching initially in 19 middle- and high schools, with a student body of more than 20,000 students in Oakland Unified and San Leandro Unified school districts in Alameda County, and Sweetwater Union, Oceanside Unified and Juvenile Court & Community Schools in San Diego County.

Youth Mental Health First Aid training for thousands of educators
Working with the California Department of Education, Blue Shield of California’s BlueSky program will fund Youth Mental Health First Aid training for thousands of public-school teachers and staff. By providing school personnel with resources to support student mental health, the program will reach tens of thousands of students in classrooms across the state.

Support for student-led peer groups in high schools
In collaboration with National Alliance on Mental Illness California (NAMI), Blue Shield of California BlueSky is supporting the creation and expansion of student-led clubs in high schools throughout the state. NAMI on Campus clubs raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma in schools through peer-led activities, education and advocacy.

Online mental health and resilience resources for all students
In 2020, DoSomething.org, the largest organization for young people and social change, will join Blue Shield of California BlueSky to further equip and empower students with the tools they need to promote positive and effective mental health within their schools, communities and, ultimately, themselves.

The Blue Shield of California BlueSky initiative will be evaluated by a research team from the University of California, San Francisco’s Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies to determine the impact on student- and school-level outcomes.

“Educators are on the front lines in recognizing Adverse Childhood Experiences as a public health crisis. Research shows that positive adult relationships, peer to peer support and mental health services are critical to helping young people heal. This collaboration is truly about the intersection of education and health,” said Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, Surgeon General of California.

“Increasing mental health supports for our students and educators, is a top priority for the California Department of Education,” said Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. “We are grateful that Blue Shield of California recognizes this need, and is actively supporting our teachers, counselors, staff and students.”

For more information on Blue Shield of California’s BlueSky initiative, and for links to resources around student mental health, visit blueshieldca.com/BlueSky.

About Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California strives to create a health care system worthy of our family and friends that is sustainably affordable. We are a not for profit, independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with over 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $20 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare health care service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $500 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation since 2002 to have an impact on California communities.

For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. 
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¹ 2013 Children’s Mental Health Report – Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
² 2018 California Children’s Report Card – Children Now

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SOURCE Blue Shield of California