SAN FRANCISCO (January 3, 2024) – Daybreak Health, the leading provider of school-based mental health services, today announced a new partnership with Livingston Parish Public Schools (LPPS) for the 2023-2024 school year. As a result of this partnership, high school students at LPPS will have access to Daybreak’s teletherapy services for mental health challenges connected to stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, and more. Additionally, LPPS will offer mental health classes for students’ families to learn more about youth mental health and better understand how they can identify and support their child’s unique needs.

The youth mental health crisis continues to worsen across the country, with teens experiencing the most severe impacts in recent years. According to the CDC, in 2021, 42% of high school students reported feeling so sad or hopeless for at least two consecutive weeks in the previous year that they stopped engaging in their usual activities. Unfortunately, access to high-quality mental care in Louisiana remains a significant barrier for teens and their families. In fact, nearly 62% of Louisianans between the ages of 12 and 17, who had depression, did not receive any care between 2020 and 2021. This year, LPPS observed an increase in student mental health needs, which led them to expand their initiatives in providing school-based mental health support for both students and their families.

Starting in January 2024, LPPS high school students will be able to receive up to 12 weeks of teletherapy sessions with Daybreak’s qualified clinicians. The program is designed to treat students to a place of concrete improvement—symptomatically, functionally, and behaviorally. Students will be matched with a clinician based on their cultural background, language, and personal preferences, with sessions starting within 1-2 weeks of a referral—which includes parental consent and is offered at no cost to families. 

In addition to teletherapy, LPPS will offer families the opportunity to learn more about youth mental health through adult education classes starting in December 2023. These mental health classes will be taught by Daybreak clinicians, both in person and virtually, and provide guidance for families looking for ways to support their child’s unique mental health journey.

“For LPPS high schools, strong connections between our staff, families, and students are critical. As educators, we want to ensure we’re providing the best support possible for a healthy, inclusive learning community,” said Joe Murphy, Superintendent of Livingston Parish Public Schools. “Mental health is an essential component of student success. By implementing programs that include both personalized, culturally-competent teletherapy for students—and classes for their families—we’re equipped more than ever before to fully meet our diverse student communities where they are.”

“We’re looking forward to working with LPPS to increase mental health support for young Louisianans—especially for high schoolers who’ve been disproportionately affected by the heightened demand for mental health services.” said Alex Alvarado, CEO and Co-Founder of Daybreak Health. “Compared to other age groups, teens are at the highest risk of experiencing mental health challenges. Our schools play a major role in bridging the gaps in access to care and helping students of all backgrounds overcome their unique challenges. By rolling out a combination of teletherapy and family classes, LPPS is effectively integrating mental health into their education system where everyone can more easily and quickly experience improvements with lasting impact.” 

“We have seen an increase in need for mental health services amongst our high school students,” said Charlene Lilly, the Federal Program Coordinator at LPPS. “Due to a shortage of local providers, Daybreak will help us to fill a gap and have a positive impact on our community.”

‍Daybreak’s evidence-based teletherapy programs are designed for teens, with positive, demonstrated results including higher grades, increased levels of attendance, and better outcomes both at school and at home. 81% of students have symptomatic improvements based on their GAD/PHQ scores, nearly 92% of parents report improved symptoms at home, while 8 in 10 school staff observe more positive behavior at school. 

To learn more about LPPS’s mental health services, reach out to Charlene Lilly at Charlene.lilly@lpsb.org or 225-686-4234.

About Livingston Parish Public Schools‍

The Livingston Parish Public School System serves over 26,000 students ranging from Pre-K through grade twelve. The district continually strives to upgrade schools to provide a climate that enhances learning. Instructional programs and other related programs and services are focused to meet the needs of its student population and the requirements of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

About Daybreak Health 

Daybreak Health partners with school districts to provide personalized mental health support to help students reach their full potential. As the leading K-12 teletherapy provider, Daybreak’s programs are designed to give students access to high-quality, affordable, and culturally competent care to meet their unique needs. Our evidence-based model treats students to a place of concrete improvement to drive academic outcomes like better grades, higher attendance, and behavioral improvements. To learn more about Daybreak’s school-based mental health programs, visit daybreakhealth.com.