Story perspectives

California Kids' Mental Health Improves Post In-Person Learning

12/9/2025

Summary

Story summary

A study published in the journal Epidemiology shows significant mental health improvements among nearly 200,000 California schoolchildren after returning to in-person learning in 2021.
The likelihood of children seeing a mental health provider decreased by 43% nine months after reopening.
Spending on mental health medications and therapies fell by 7.5% and 10.6%, respectively.
Dr. Rita Hamad noted that the risks of prolonged school closures were underestimated, which could have influenced decision-making.
The study's focus on privately insured children may limit its findings, leading to plans for further analysis using Medicaid data.

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Story summary

A study published in the journal Epidemiology shows significant mental health improvements among nearly 200,000 California schoolchildren after returning to in-person learning in 2021.
The likelihood of children seeing a mental health provider decreased by 43% nine months after reopening.
Spending on mental health medications and therapies fell by 7.5% and 10.6%, respectively.
Dr. Rita Hamad noted that the risks of prolonged school closures were underestimated, which could have influenced decision-making.
The study's focus on privately insured children may limit its findings, leading to plans for further analysis using Medicaid data.