3 Steps to Answer Governor Newsom’s Call for Youth Mental Health Action

Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing state agencies to address what experts call a growing crisis of loneliness among boys and young men in California. The order calls for expanding mental health services and creating stronger education and workforce pathways.

“Too many young men and boys are suffering in silence — disconnected from community, opportunity, and even their own families. This action is about turning that around. It’s about showing every young man that he matters and there’s a path for him of purpose, dignity, work, and real connection,” said Governor Newsom.

The statistics from the Governor’s announcement uncovered:

• 42% of teen boys report feeling lonely.
• One in four men under 30 report having no close friends.
• Black, Latino, and Indigenous young men have the lowest college-going rates (40-49%).
• Men aged 15-44 die by suicide at three to four times the rate of women.

Experts cited in the EdSource article point to deeper issues: boys are often misdiagnosed, punished instead of supported, and cut off from resources that could help. But these challenges aren’t limited to boys. Teen girls are reporting record-high rates of persistent sadness, and LGBTQ+ youth face far greater risks for depression, anxiety, and suicide.

In short, we are facing a youth mental health crisis, and the loneliness crisis is one urgent piece of the puzzle.

Where CYBHI comes in

Governor Newsom’s executive order specifically directs the California Health and Human Services Agency to work alongside the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) to “support the mental health and help-seeking behavior” of young people.

Here’s the challenge: as EdSource notes, many of the state’s youth mental health programs are funded with one-time dollars set to expire in 2027. Without sustainable funding, the very services schools are building today could vanish in just a few years.

CYBHI offers districts a way forward:

• It turns mental health services into reimbursable care through Medi-Cal and commercial insurance.
• It helps schools build infrastructure so services — from wellness centers to peer programs — can survive beyond the life of any one grant.
• It supports early intervention and prevention, reducing the need for costly, reactive measures down the road.

Turning the Governor’s vision into reality

At TadHealth, we specialize in helping districts fully participate in CYBHI, from insurance collection to claim submission to stakeholder communication. Our platform is built to remove the biggest barriers to participation so schools can focus on serving students.

3 CYBHI-powered actions your district can take now

1. Answer the Governor’s Call with CYBHI
   Governor Newsom has called for the hiring of more school-based mental health staff. With CYBHI funding, districts can bring on and retain these professionals. TadHealth makes sure these roles aren’t just temporary; our platform helps districts create sustainable funding streams so these positions can be supported year after year. 
2. Make insurance collection a core part of your outreach
   Every family connected to CYBHI-eligible services strengthens your ability to fund mental health programs long-term. Partnering with TadHealth makes it easy to integrate this step into enrollment, orientations, and school events, without overburdening staff.
3. Build sustainability from day one
   CYBHI reimbursement, paired with TadHealth’s streamlined claims process, ensures mental health programs won’t disappear just as students begin to rely on them.

Governor Newsom is right: too many young people are suffering in silence. But awareness is only the first step. Schools need sustainable systems to meet this moment and CYBHI is the clearest path to get there.

TadHealth is here to help districts turn the Governor’s call to action into lasting change. Together, we can create schools where students and youth, regardless of gender, have the connection, representation, and emotional support they need to thrive.

Book a free 1:1 with TadHealth to learn how your district can leverage CYBHI to expand and sustain mental health services for every student.