Google.org has announced a $10 million Teen Mental HealthInitiative to provide essential mental health resources to one million high school students and 10,000 teachers. The funds will be distributed to leading nonprofits, including Selena Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund, DonorsChoose, The JEDFoundation, Child Mind Institute, and The Steve Fund.
As part of this initiative, Google.org has fully funded all current mental health projects on DonorsChoose, allocating over $1.5 million to support more than 2,000 classrooms across the country. Additionally, new eligible projects will receive up to $500 in funding.
The initiative was launched at Eagle Rock High School in LosAngeles, where Selena Gomez made a surprise appearance, highlighting the importance of bringing mental health resources into classrooms. CaliforniaGovernor Gavin Newsom and Senator Alex Padilla also voiced their support, emphasizing the critical need for mental health tools to help teens navigate today’s challenges.
To further support teachers, Google.org is funding the development of nine 30-minute mental health training courses, created by leading nonprofits. Teachers who complete the courses will receive Donors Choose credits to enhance their classrooms.
Dr. Aileen Gendrano Adao, a wellness leader at Eagle RockHigh School, praised the initiative, noting how crucial it is for teenagers to have a safe space to build strong mental health habits. Alix Guerrier, CEO ofDonorsChoose, echoed this sentiment, stressing that mental well-being is tightly linked to academic success.
This initiative builds on Google’s broader commitment to youth digital well-being and mental health, raising their total commitment from$20 million to $25 million this year.
“Google searches for ‘teen mental health’ have doubled in the last four years, reaching an all-time high in 2023,” said Justin Steele, Director of Google.org America. “We’re excited to help get these critical resources into the hands of teens and teachers nationwide.”
For more information on how to sign up:
https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/google.org-announces-10-million-teen-mental-health-initiative
