Google, Selena Gomez Team Up to Fund Teen Mental Health in Classrooms

The unprecedented mental health crisis for children in the United States often surfaces where they spend much of their time: school. Google’s philanthropic arm is stepping in to address this by funding high school wellbeing projects through a classroom crowdfunding platform.

On Monday, Google.org flash funded all mental health-related listings on DonorsChoose, an online charity that helps purchase supplies requested by public school teachers. With an additional $10 million in new donations and the involvement of actress Selena Gomez, the tech giant aims to prioritize mindfulness as an educational goal as the academic year begins.

Schools have increasingly relied on teachers for psychological support following the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought alarming levels of childhood depression, anxiety, and behavioral issues. However, experts note that increased awareness hasn’t necessarily led to more philanthropic funding for mental health initiatives.

Google.org had previously committed to support nonprofits that focus on kids’ mental health and online safety. Monday’s announcement, which includes $500 vouchers for eligible DonorsChoose campaigns in the near future, raises this pledge to $25 million.

This initiative comes amid significant criticism and lawsuits alleging that Google-owned YouTube and other social media platforms have contributed to the mental health crisis among children by incorporating addictive features.

Justin Steele, Google.org’s Director for the Americas, highlighted the company’s efforts to contribute to positive solutions in this “important conversation.” He noted that searches for “teen mental health” have doubled over the last four years, indicating a growing interest in the topic.

“Obviously, we want people to be able to take advantage of all the amazing things technology has to offer,” Steele said. “But we also want them to be able to do it in a healthy and safe way.”

Google.org is donating $6 million to DonorsChoose and an additional $1.5 million to the Jed Foundation, the Steve Fund, and the Child Mind Institute, organizations that focus on mental health for young adults, people of color, and children. These groups will create half-hour training sessions to help educators navigate new mental health challenges, with teachers earning $200 DonorsChoose credits upon course completion.

Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund, which aims to drive more investment into the underfunded field of mental health, is receiving $1.25 million from Google.org.

The “Only Murders in the Building” star has been open about her own bipolar diagnosis. In a Monday blog post, Gomez shared her belief that “caring adults” can make a significant difference for teenagers. “As young people find their way through the world, it’s crucial that they get guidance in building healthy, positive, and productive mental health habits,” Gomez wrote. “Few people are in a better position to help do this than teachers.”

The urgency of addressing behavioral issues in high school was underscored by a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data, released on August 6, revealed that students faced bullying and missed school due to safety concerns at higher rates than previous years.

Alyson Niemann, Executive Director of Mindful Philanthropy, acknowledged that although the increased focus on mental health has led to some funding boosts for nonprofits in this area, the support still doesn’t match the new levels of awareness. She noted that donors often aren’t sure which solutions are effective, but emphasized that school-based mental health support is one of the most impactful remedies. Schools are often the first place where students seek treatment and find trusted adults in teachers or coaches.

DonorsChoose CEO Alix Guerrier stressed that teachers are not substitutes for mental health professionals. However, DonorsChoose has seen a fourfold increase in the number of mental health-related submissions over the past four years. These requests range from saucer chairs for “calm corners” to meditative stuffed animals that guide deep breathing.

“There is no limit to teachers’ creativities,” Guerrier said.

In Los Angeles, high school English teacher Aileen Gendrano Adao has long prioritized mental health in her classroom. She starts her classes with three deep breaths and uses wall posters to affirm students’ self-worth. DonorsChoose has afforded her the flexibility to engage creatively with students, especially when school districts can’t meet emerging needs. This was particularly evident when she obtained graphic novels about Asian American identity during the pandemic when racially motivated attacks against Asian Americans spiked.

She hopes that the additional funding will encourage more educators to prioritize mental health. “Schools are transforming in a way that’s needed and necessary to heal from post-pandemic chaos,” Adao said. “There’s an investment. People are seeing us and wanting us to be better and whole again.”

Source: Associated Press