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The Los Angeles Unified School District saw an increase in the number of patients, including students and their families, receiving medical, dental and behavioral health services at expanded wellness centers, according to a new  by the Los Angeles Trust for Children鈥檚 Health. 

The district鈥檚 17 wellness centers and three school-based health centers served nearly 55,000 patients during the 2023-24 school year 鈥� an increase of 9% from the previous year 鈥� with more than half of student-age patients between 14 and 19 years old. Nearly 7,500 patients visited a wellness center or school-based health center for behavioral health services, a nearly 25% increase compared to the prior year. 

鈥淲hen students have access to quality healthcare, they have greater opportunities to succeed,鈥� said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of the L.A. Trust, in the report. 鈥淭he Wellness Centers and SBHCs (school-based health centers) continue to be lifelines for students and families.鈥� 

The centers provide comprehensive behavioral health services such as mental health assessments, substance use evaluations, developmental screenings and psychotherapy. Of the patients who were between the ages of 6 and 19, 27% were receiving psychotherapy at an L.A. Unified wellness center. 

About a tenth of the children age 6 to 19 also received a mental health diagnosis, including for anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and attention deficit disorders. More than a third of those diagnoses were of 鈥渙ther disorders,鈥� including autism, disorders related to severe stress, and developmental disorders, which increased from the 2021-22 school year. 

鈥淭hese numbers reflect growing trust in the services and a deepening understanding of the connection between health and academic success,鈥� Puffer said. 

Students also received primary care services, preventative services such as medical screenings, flu and measles vaccinations, testing for sexually transmitted infections, contraceptive management, referrals to substance use treatment and dental exams. 

The report also indicated that 37% of patients 6 to 19 years old were diagnosed as overweight or obese, an increase of 7% from the previous year. Nearly half of all patients who were seen were also diagnosed as overweight or obese.

鈥淭he data also underscores ongoing challenges, including rising obesity rates and persistent behavioral health needs,鈥� Puffer said. 鈥淭hese findings fuel our commitment to expanding innovative solutions such as dental-medical integration, mental health interventions, and partnerships that promote healthier lifestyles for students.鈥� 

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