Improving Students Mental Health Through School Counseling

This policy brief emphasizes the increasing shortage of school counselors in California and proposes statewide counselor-to-student ratio standards, more mental health funding, as well as partnerships with local communities to make sure all students have an adequate amount of access to support for their mental health, academic performance, as well as their overall well-being.

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Ariana Berjis

June 19, 2026

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Inquiry-driven, this project may reflect personal views, aiming to enrich problem-related discourse.

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Ariana Berjis

2026 Spring Fellow

Ariana Berjis is a student at Monte Vista High School who is passionate about youth advocacy, mental health awareness, and community service. As a fellow with the Institute for Youth in Policy, she researched the challenges students face in accessing mental health support and created policy solutions to improve access to school counselors across California. Outside of policy work, Ariana is involved in journalism, youth leadership, and service initiatives that bring people together and create positive change in her community. She enjoys using her voice to advocate for issues affecting young people and believes that meaningful change begins with listening, understanding, and taking action.

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Ariana Berjis

Other Fellowship Capstones

Freedom of Movement: The Case for Equitable, Beautiful, and Sustainable Urban Infrastructure in the U.S.

A Reassessment of Ballot Access in the United States

Protecting the Freedom of the Press: Analyzing Vast Impunity & Abundance of Crimes Against Journalists