Crisis Text Line, a third-party service that partners with the California community college system to support and advise students in crisis, says messages sent to its counselors increased 12% from February to March.
That could be just the beginning of an expected surge in requests from struggling community college students for mental health support.
College officials say growing numbers of students are stressed out by the shift to online learning and the accompanying lack of face-to-face support. Soaring job losses are also taking their toll on the state's community college students, who tend to have lower incomes and need full-time work to pay for their education.
Larry Resendez, dean of student services at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar, told us:
"There are hundreds, if not more, that clearly are dealing with a lot of high levels of stress, and anxiety, and maybe depression."
READ THE FULL STORY
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
