Written by Tawhida C., Youth Liberty Squad Student, 12th Grader in Los Angeles
There’s a weird disconnect between the way schools talk about mental health and the reality students face every day. We hear words like “self-care” and “resilience,” but what we really need is access to support and help.
In California, students have a legal right to mental health at school. Yet, accessing those resources is another story. Counselors are overwhelmed, and students are left waiting weeks just to have a conversation. At my school, we only have one psychiatrist. One– for an entire student body, it feels impossible to get help when so many students are trying to access the same person. Looking around me I noticed many students who were struggling with their mental health, my friends among those who had finally got to talk to their counselors after going through something unfortunate happen. That made me wonder: How many students gave up on reaching out because the system made it so hard to get help?
Even when support exists, it often underdelivers. Schools focus on crisis intervention over long-term care, offering mindfulness pamphlets, or posters when what students truly need is someone to listen to them, without feeling judged. While well-intended, these quick “fixes” don’t replace real support from trained professionals. The issue isn’t just about funding, it’s also about culture. Many students, especially from marginalized communities, hesitate to reach out due to stigma. As a visibly Muslim student, I’ve felt that hesitation too. I was just a kid when the Muslim Ban happened, so I couldn’t fully understand what was happening around me at that time. But now, as a high school student wearing a hijab, I do understand. That feeling—my heart beating fast, almost like it was going to burst out of my chest—came the first day I wore my hijab, because I was so hyper-aware of how people would perceive me. I feel the weight of being a visible Muslim student in a world where it seems to be seen as a threat. This shift made me immensely aware of how politics play a role in our lives.
And, I’m not alone. According to ISPU’s 2022 annual survey, nearly 48% of muslim children have faced religious based-bullying, with many reporting it being a daily occurrence. That’s not all, 42% of families have reported their child was being bullied by a teacher or a school official at school. Students have a right to attend a school that is free from bullying and harassment, including when it comes from authority figures. How can students feel safe reaching out for help when the people who are supposed to protect them are sometimes the ones causing harm? Without safe, judgment free spaces, mental health resources will remain underused. Having someone safe to talk to, a professional who studied human nature to talk to shouldn’t be a privilege, but a student right that is executed well.
You can learn more about your rights here at My School My Rights.
RESOURCES TO SUPPPORT
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): Offers mental health education, support groups, and advocacy.
- The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth.
- California Youth Crisis Line: A 24/7 free and confidential support line for youth in crisis call or text (800) 843-5200.
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 support from a trained crisis counselor.
- Text “TEEN” to 839863 or call (800) 852 – 8336 (6-10 PM PST) run by teens, for teens a confidential support for anything your going through
- Mental Health American (MHA) offers free mental health screenings, toolkits, and information on mental wellness and recovery.
- JED Foundation Focused on protecting emotional health and preventing suicide for teens and young adults
- Each Mind Matters promotes mental health awareness, stigma reduction, and access to resources across CA.
- SAMHSA’S National Helpline Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – 24/7, free and confidential U.S Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services administration hotline for treatment referrals and info.