By Stephanie Nguyen
The Huntington Beach Union High School District has announced on their website that Hazel Health, a telehealth service, is offering limited but free mental health support to all students in the district, including pupils who attend Fountain Valley High School (FVHS)
Hazel Health is a platform that offers virtual visits to K-12 children and teenagers on campus and/or at home to assess and care for mental or physical health. A licensed therapist, social worker or other qualified professional can help address developmental and emotional concerns that come with certain growth milestones and stages, helping potential clients deal with anxiety, school-and-life balance, low self-esteem, etc. The program can be tailored to individual districts, schools and other educational spaces on an opt-in basis, and other school districts in Orange County, such as the Irvine Unified School District and Westminster School District (note: link is provided from district’s website), have already participated under a few limitations.
However, FVHS and the rest of the district have opted out of online services at school, effectively preventing any virtual visits during school hours. FVHS Principal Paul Lopez has confirmed to Baron Banner via email that there are no services available on campus at this time.
Instead, students must register for an account with their family’s consent at home and schedule all meetings to take place before or after school from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To do so, users will need access to a personal device and search for their district of attendance with the provided search engine. Once the desired result is found, it will lead them to the registration portal, which asks for a mobile number, personal email address and student ID. It appears that withholding student information from standard registration is not possible at the moment.
The initial process begins with a 75-minute screening, as per the website, and must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or other adult who is 18 years old and above for the initial screening and all virtual visits. They must also have a referral by a parent or legal guardian before speaking with a professional. If the client has reached the age of majority or is legally independent from their parents, they can attend sessions alone.
Either way, a service-provider will be matched to their client, ensuring customized support uniquely tailored to their individual needs and circumstances. Recent statistics reported by the company indicate that 40% of its diverse, virtual team are bilingual, providing services in over 30 languages. Connected clients can expect weekly visits for any period of time between six weeks to a couple of months. Most cases are usually closed by that time, as Hazel Health is stated to be a “short-term program” on their Frequently Asked Questions Page, and does not replace longer-term care.
“I think it’s a good option for folks who maybe have challenges getting to counseling, [or] physically getting there,” Cynthia Olaya, the student support school psychologist,said. “Most of the students I speak to would rather have in-person counseling, but there are certainly some kids who don’t mind virtual counseling, and so I think for them, it can be a really great resource.”
She also said the difference between the two comes down to personal preference.
“What we know, as with most therapy, is that it’s a goodness-of-fit model that seems to make the difference. So it’s really about, ‘does the model match what you’re looking for?'”
