Thurmond — with help from Goldie Hawn and Ava DuVernay — unveils free mental-health guides for schools

Free mental-health curriculum will be available to California teachers and students to help them cope with escalating stress related to the pandemic, school closures, racial injustice and national political strife, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced Tuesday.

The materials are provided by organizations including the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for California, Headspace, MindUP, ARRAY101, Kevin Love Fund and Beyond Differences. The materials include classroom mindfulness exercises, social justice discussion guides, curriculum related to brain science and mental health, and other topics.

“It’s hard enough being a young person, but right now young people are facing some of the toughest times we’ve had in our lifetimes,” Thurmond said. “But we want young people to know that even in these times, there is hope, and there is help available.”

Actress Goldie Hawn, director and writer Ava DuVernay and Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers joined Thurmond for Tuesday’s announcement. They each spearhead nonprofits that are involved in the initiative.

“We can’t turn a blind eye to the next generation, because they will shape the world,” Hawn said. “We have to give them a holistic, simple way to handle their sadness, their fear, their uncertainty.”

Thurmond also encouraged school districts to bill Medi-Cal and work with county social service agencies or local nonprofits in order to expand mental-health services for students. The state Mental Health Services and Oversight Commission recently made a similar recommendation.