US EditionCommentary: California’s Rural Youth Struggle Alone with Mental Health. Their Peers Could Learn to Help Them
The study shows that exposure to violence and PTSD symptoms lower GPAs for Latine middle schoolers, with language use moderating academic risks, highlighting systemic barriers.
- Recently, Lehigh University researchers led by Dr. Vanesa Mora Ringle linked exposure to violence and posttraumatic stress with language changes and lower GPAs in Latine middle schoolers.
- Latine children face the highest unmet mental health needs due to language barriers, stigma, and scarce culturally appropriate services, while English-only instructional policies and funding gaps in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. increase stress and limit support.
- The study shows students who speak Spanish more often and face recent violence have lower GPAs, while those with high PTSD symptoms but less Spanish use also risk academic decline.
- To address this, advocates recommend schools incorporate trauma-informed, culturally affirming practices and hire bilingual mental health providers, as Dr. Vanesa Mora Ringle calls the findings `sobering and urgent`.
- With funding available through the Behavioral Health Services Act, rural students face gaps as two-thirds of counties lack psychiatrists and telehealth struggles where about 30% lack internet.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Commentary: California’s rural youth struggle alone with mental health. Their peers could learn to help them
Imagine a high school student in rural California, struggling with a mental issue for weeks with no one to talk to. The nearest therapist is hours away, the youth’s family can’t spare the time or gas and even if they…
California’s rural youth struggle alone with mental health. Their peers could learn to help them
Guest Commentary: Young people want support that feels genuine, relatable and free of stigma. Peer programs can make reaching out less intimidating and more human. If California truly wants to meet the mental health needs of its youth, it must…
California’s rural youth struggle alone with mental health. Their peers could learn to help them
Emma Bogart, 19, and Jordin Raven Tauzer-Pardo, 19, chat at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa on Sept. 26, 2024. Photo by Adahlia Cole for CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. You can sign up for their newsletter here. Imagine a high school student in rural California, struggling with a mental issue for weeks with no one to talk to. The nearest therapist is hours away, the youth’s family can’t spare the t…
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