Social Work Student Rallies for Policy Change
To address mental health issues in the community, recent CSULB School of Social Work graduate Alexander de Leon met with California Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal to offer analysis on a recent bill that could provide beneficial steps towards mental health problems, especially among youth.
Last year, four members of the California State Assembly, Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal being the principal author, were inspired to put forward a bill entitled A.B. 1282 – Impacts of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Mental Health. This bill is based on the recognition of the negative side effects social media and artificial intelligence may have on children and youth. De Leon chose to analyze this California social welfare policy as his two-semester thesis project, specifically with the aim of understanding the rationale for the bill, and offering to share the components of the analysis, as well as findings and recommendations that might help policy makers strengthen the scope for the bill.
With an emphasis on children and youth, the bill seeks to address a vulnerable segment of society who need mental health support as well as addressing a growing social problem brought about by the promises of social media and artificial intelligence.
According to De Leon's policy analysis, AB-1282 "stipulates that the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) provide a strategy to specified legislative committees to address the risks to the mental health of children and youth associated with the use of social media and AI (California Senate Rules Committee, 2023)."
The bill cites the many potential harmful mental health related issues associated with social media, such as depression, anxiety and other forms of psychological distress, as well as cyberbulling. In addition, it also aims to address potential concerns about artificial intelligence, such as privacy.
In his analysis, De Leon highlights the implications of the bill, which "requires that the report produced by the MHSOAC include recommendations to strengthen children and youth resiliency strategies and the use of California's mental health services to reduce the negative effects that might result from untreated mental illnessess (California Legislature 2023)."
Last year, the School of Social Work, in an effort to strengthen youth resilience, began a field internship program placing social work students in local middle schools and Boys & Girls Clubs to address problems facing the youth mental health infrasturucture in the community.
De Leon, who graduated from the Master of Social Work program at CSULB this past May, is just another example of students coming out of the program who show their desire to want to make a difference in their community, specifically in relation to mental health. AB-1282 has currently been put on the California Senate Inactive File, but De Leon's analysis offered three recommendations to strengthen the bill's scope.
- Set the lower age limit of the policy protection age to between 3 and 8, based upon studies of early development and technology use by children.
- Reword 'negative health risks associated with AI' to 'negative mental health risks associated with AI' to better align with the mental health focus of the bill.
- Include text that defines specific mental health risks related to AI and include risks of exacerbating negative biases and risks to civil liberties.
In support of CSULB’s commitment to social work education, Alex and his thesis faculty advisor, Prof. Eileen Mayers Pasztor, DSW, were invited to meet via zoom with Assemblymember Lowenthal, his Sacramento-based Legislative Director, Brady McCarthy, and Clayton Heard at the Long Beach office. It was a vibrant discussion in which Alex communicated his findings to policy makers. Mr. Lowenthal and his team were especially interested in Alex’s recommendations regarding the advocacy components of the bill.
Alex’s five chapter policy analysis will be published in the CSULB Main Library later this summer. It will include an abstract; introduction with policy objectives; literature review; history; intended and unintended consequences; potential changes in services, rights, and resources; and connections to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, specifically how A.B. 1282 could promote competence, ensure dignity and integrity, address relationships, provide service, and enhance social justice through advocacy.
