CA SB224

Requires school districts, county offices of education, state special schools, and charter schools offering health education in middle or high school to include mandatory mental health instruction

Mental health instruction must cover overarching themes and core principles of mental health, signs and symptoms of common mental health challenges, evidence-based services and supports, protective factors, warning signs, and how to seek help from school counselors, psychologists, and social workers

Instruction materials must be age-appropriate, culturally responsive, accessible to pupils with disabilities and English learners, and must not reflect bias against any protected category

Pupils cannot be required to disclose confidential health or mental health information while receiving instruction, including during peer presentation components

California Department of Education must develop a plan to expand mental health instruction in public schools by January 1, 2024