What is this bill about?
AB 1626 will require mental health training for youth sports coaches and provide tools to better support the health and wellness of youth athletes.
How does it align with yli’s values?
California’s youth are facing a mental health crisis, with rising rates of depression, anxiety, disconnection, and suicide. Student athletes are not immune to these challenges, and many face additional pressures related to performance, identity, body image, and belonging. For many youths, especially those less likely to seek help, coaches may be one of the most trusted and consistently available figures outside the home.
Coaches spend significant time with student athletes and are often present during moments of stress, failure, and vulnerability. This proximity places them in a unique position to notice early warning signs of mental health distress. Yet studies show that only one in five coaches feel highly confident in their ability to support youth facing mental health challenges, and California law currently does not require mental health training for youth sports coaches.
yli partners with thousands of youth across the state, the majority of whom are low-income youth of color. In recent years, mental health has become the core issue around which most of our programming focuses. Our youth depend on us to pass policies that work effectively to address these health crises.
This policy aligns with our Health Justice Platform, which advocates for comprehensive and holistic health care for all people.
What is yli doing about it?
We have just submitted a letter endorsing this bill, and we are showing our support on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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