The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a need for mental health services in Santa Cruz County’s public schools. We hear from a director at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education about virtual mentoring, an approach that has shown promise in addressing student mental health needs. We discuss how it works and where it falls short. This episode is the third in Santa Cruz Local’s Distance Learning Series. Listen to part one of this series: Ep. 89 Public education money, COVID and the power of Santa Cruz County school boards https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/01/31/podcast-public-education-money-covid-and-the-power-of-santa-cruz-county-school-boards/ Listen to part two of this series: Ep. 90 Student mental health needs in Santa Cruz County, part 1 https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/03/23/podcast-student-mental-health-and-stress-in-santa-cruz-county-part-1/ Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: https://santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local's free newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Santa Cruz Local members, read the transcript to this episode: https://santacruzlocal.org/ Take Santa Cruz Local's survey on education: https://santacruzlocal.org/schools Santa Cruz County mental health resources: Call or text 211 or visit https://www.211santacruzcounty.org/mental-healthx/ For counseling: Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, 831-728-6445 or https://www.pvpsa.org/ For counseling: Encompass, 831-429-8350 or https://www.encompasscs.org/youth_services_counseling Anyone who is contemplating suicide or has lost someone to suicide can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.