Suicide is a significant public health concern across the country, with over 480,000 Americans dying by suicide between 2010 and 2020. In California, research has consistently shown that males are at a higher risk of suicide than females. Possibly as a response to this disparity, in recent years, California youth mental health initiatives have placed a specific focus on boys’ mental health.
Governor Newsom’s executive order N-31-25 was signed in 2025 to address boys’ emotional well-being in California. The order does not create new school mandates, but it signals increased state-level attention to male youth mental health. This article explains what the California Executive Order means for boys’ mental health, and how schools are responding.1,2
Policy Changes Supporting Boys’ Emotional Well-Being
The executive order issued by Governor Newsom aligns with California’s overall goal of building a stronger behavioral health system. One part of the Mental Health for All plan includes Proposition 1, passed in 2024, which increased funds to the behavioral health system. Through this funding for boys’ mental health programs, California has been able to build new treatment facilities and housing for mental health concerns, as well as expand access to mental health care.
Another component of California’s Mental Health for All plan is funding issued by the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative to create a larger workforce available to support youth behavioral health. Additionally, the California Community Schools Partnership Program is also working to provide quality mental health care to students.2,3
Mission Prep Healthcare specializes in mental health treatment for teens aged 12-17, offering residential and outpatient programs for anxiety, depression, trauma, and mood disorders. Our therapies include CBT, DBT, EMDR, and TMS, tailored to each adolescent’s needs.
With a structured, supportive environment, we integrate academic support and family involvement to promote lasting recovery. Our goal is to help teens build resilience and regain confidence in their future.
California Male Youth Mental Health Support
Looking at Executive Order N-31-25, the governor declared several important California youth mental health initiatives:3
- Multiple departments of the California government will work together to develop recommendations to address the suicide crisis among young males.
- Offices will identify new opportunities for promoting and enhancing the participation of males through California Volunteers.
- Current campaigns will be reevaluated to find ways to encourage males to fully participate in services and activities. These include campaigns implemented under California Jobs First, the Master Plan for Career Education, the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, and the California Community Schools Partnership Program.
- Using data, the government will identify any gaps in mental health treatment options for males.
- The Department of Education will use funds to improve the recruitment of men as teachers and school counselors.
- There will be a continuous review of research on providing developmentally appropriate transitional kindergarten and kindergarten curriculum. This is intended to help children, including boys, receive a supportive environment that accounts for diverse learning modalities.
The final portion of the executive order outlines the process for assessing the impact of executive orders on teen mental health. Government agencies involved in the initiatives outlined above are required to provide quarterly updates to the Governor’s Office, including any proposed actions in response. This can help California decision makers better understand the impact of government policies on boys’ mental health.3
Understanding the Implementation of Executive Orders in Schools
To meet the requirements of California’s Executive Order N-31-25, schools across the state have developed a variety of mental health programs for male youth in California. Some of the main areas of focus are suicide prevention, mental health education, and the model referral protocol.4
Youth Suicide Prevention
One of the key mental health programs for boys in California is the implementation of a suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention plan. Schools in California are encouraged to follow the model youth suicide prevention policy for local educational agencies (LEAs), provided by the Department of Education.5
According to the model policy, schools are taking the following actions:
- Providing training to teachers and staff on youth suicide prevention and awareness.
- Forming a suicide prevention crisis team.
- Implementing mental health screening processes for students.
- Engaging family and caregivers in education related to mental health.
- Creating lesson plans designed to teach students about general mental health and suicide prevention.
Educating students, staff, and caregivers about youth suicide involves learning about the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, risk factors associated with suicide, protective factors, coping skills for dealing with stress and trauma, and how to find help for themselves or others.5
California Health Education Framework
Another important state-level mental health initiative is following the health education standards. The California Health Education Framework is a tool that was designed to help schools meet these standards. The goal is to help teachers and staff develop programs that educate, influence, and inspire children to learn, adopt, and maintain positive health habits. While the framework isn’t a curriculum or a statewide mandate, it provides examples of how educators can introduce health education topics in grades K-12.6
Mental, emotional, and social health lesson plans can cover a wide range of topics, including signs of a mental health concern, how to access mental health treatment, and the relationship between stress and mental health. In addition to focusing on mental health, the California Health Education Framework also addresses physical health, sexual health, drug abuse and misuse, injury prevention, and community health. 6
By ensuring that students are educated about overall health and well-being, educators can play a vital role in bringing California youth mental health policies right into the classroom.
Senate Bill 153: Model Referral Protocols
When Senate Bill 153 was passed in 2024, the California Department of Education developed model referral protocols for addressing student behavioral health concerns. While the protocols are not mandatory legal requirements, they align with Senate Bill 153. The main components of the protocol include conducting a needs assessment, building capacity, planning, implementation, and evaluation.7
A needs assessment allows schools to understand recent trends in behavioral health, gaps in care, and available support services. Building capacity means that the school will strengthen both its internal mental health supports and community-based resources. Next, schools will plan a strategy to address their specific needs and execute mental health referrals. This involves talking to parents about their teen’s mental health during a referral. Finally, there should be an evaluation period to consider if the protocol impacted students and make improvements as needed.7
As discussed above, three key ways that schools are responding to these requirements include developing a suicide prevention program, following the health education framework, and implementing a referral process for student mental health concerns. However, there are other ways schools can implement an appropriate mental health policy for male adolescents as well. The important thing is that schools are continuously working to offer accessible mental health programs for boys in California.
What Parents Need to Know About Boys’ Mental Health Laws
As a parent, you may not know exactly how California’s executive order affects boys’ mental health. Understanding how these policies translate into school programs can help you stay informed and involved. The major theme parents should be aware of is the importance of family involvement in youth mental health in schools. The initiatives implemented in schools discussed in this article rely heavily on parent and caregiver involvement.
When it comes to youth suicide prevention, parents are expected to read any learning materials provided to them about youth suicide. This means they should know the warning signs to look for and have a plan for talking to their teen about suicide as needed. In addition, the California Health Education Framework emphasizes parental involvement so that teens can ask questions and lean on family for emotional support.5,6
The mental health referral protocols implemented in California schools have an area focused on getting family consent throughout the process. Parents need to know what to expect if their child is referred for external mental health services and how the school will support them.7
Mission Prep Provides Mental Health Support for California Teens
The youth mental health crisis is affecting our nation, but California faces unique challenges and opportunities due to recent executive orders targeting boys’ mental health. If you live in California and you are concerned that your child is facing a mental health issue, Mission Prep is here to help.
We offer multiple levels of mental health care across California to address a variety of teen behavioral health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Call us today to speak to a trusted member of our team and receive clinical recommendations for mental health services to meet your child’s needs.
References
- Lund, J. J., Tomsich, E., Schleimer, J. P., & Pear, V. A. (2023). Changes in suicide in California from 2017 to 2021: A population-based study. Injury Epidemiology, 10(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-023-00429-6
- Newsom, G. (2025, July 30). Governor Newsom issues executive order to support young men and boys, address suicide rates. Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/07/30/governor-newsom-issues-executive-order-to-support-young-men-and-boys-address-suicide-rates/
- Cal. Exec. Order No. N-31-25 (Feb. 20, 2025). (2025). Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-7-30.Men-and-Boys-Workgroup-EO.ATTESTED.pdf
- California Department of Education. (2025, November 25). Mental health learning support. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/mh/
- California Department of Education. (2025, November 21). Youth suicide prevention. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/mh/suicideprevres.asp
- California Department of Education. (2025, May 5). Health education framework. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/he/cf/
- California Department of Education. (2025, November 18). Senate Bill 153: Model referral protocols. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/mh/referralprotocols.asp
