Google searches for “teen mental health” have doubled in the last four years, reaching an all-time high in 2023, according to Justin Steele, the America’s director of Google.org.
And the search engine — along with mental health ambassador Selena Gomez — are doing something about it.
Today, Google.org — the philanthropic arm of Google — announced a $10 million Teen Mental Health Initiative, which will support the rollout of mental health resources to one million high school students and 10,000 teachers.
The funds will be distributed among a number of youth mental health and education nonprofits, including Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund, DonorsChoose, The JED Foundation, Child Mind Institute, and The Steve Fund.
It’s a cause close to Gomez’s heart, who founded the Rare Impact Fund to “mobilize $100 million for organizations increasing access to youth mental health services and education” around the globe.
“I know that being a teenager can feel complicated and lonely. When it comes to mental health, knowledge is power,” Gomez said on Monday.
“We have to give teens resources so that they can build strong, positive, and productive mental health habits. That’s why… we want to expand access to mental health services by meeting young people where they are: The classroom.”
As part of the initiative, Google.org has funded all current mental health projects created by high school teachers on the DonorsChoose platform — a website that helps teachers receive funding for supplies, curriculum, and more. This provides more than $1.5 million to over 2,000 classrooms across the country.
“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 in a blog post for Google.org. “Few people are in a better position to help do this than teachers.”
After today, Google.org will continue to provide $500 to all eligible projects posted to DonorsChoose.
“Mental wellbeing and academic achievement are inextricably tied,” said Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose in a statement. “Our recent research shows more than 70% of public school teachers are concerned about their students’ mental health.
Guerrier added that this initiative will “give frontline educators critical tools and resources to support the wellbeing of students across the country.”
In addition to these funds, teachers can also receive $200 in DonorsChoose credit when they complete one of nine new Google.org-funded mental health trainings.
These trainings, created to support teachers as they “navigate the ins and outs of teen mental health,” are all 30 minutes in length and were created by Child Mind Institute, JED Foundation, and The Steve Fund.
“It’s so important that teenagers have a safe space to build strong mental health habits. I try to make my classroom the place where they can ask hard questions and navigate tricky topics like personal identity, self-worth, and confidence,” said Dr. Aileen Gendrado Adao, a teacher and wellness leader at Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles, CA.
Dr. G — as she’s known by her students — also shared that she has used DonorsChoose to fund a variety of mental health projects, including a peer-to-peer counseling program that required extra supplies like posters and paint markers for activities.
“It's great to see Google supporting a platform that allows me and other teachers to ensure our students' wellbeing is a core priority,” she said.
Dr. G was just one leader present at an announcement event at Eagle Rock today, where she was joined by Gomez, as well as Senator Alex Padilla, his wife Angela Padilla, and Jennifer Lynn Siebel Newsom, the First Partner of California.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also praised the initiative, although he was not present at the event.
“The First Partner and I are proud to stand with Selena Gomez, the Rare Impact Fund, and Google to support students in growing strong mental health habits,” Gov. Newsom shared in a statement.
He also mentioned the California Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, which works “to ensure that every child has the support they need to thrive.”
Senator Padilla has also been a force for mental health reform in California, co-founding the Bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus to “reduce stigma and develop bipartisan mental health solutions.”
“It is up to us to expand the conversation and break down the culture of silence,” Sen. Padilla said in a statement. “I’m proud to see private investments announced today complement our efforts to tackle this crisis head-on.”
This new $10 million investment is only part of Google’s larger mental health initiatives, which focus on youth digital wellbeing and mental health. With this announcement, Google has now invested $25 million in this cause.
And alongside the ambassadorship of one of the most well-known mental health advocates in modern life — Gomez — young people will have a support net in schools they likely have never had before.
“No one should feel isolated in their mental health experiences, especially young people, who can be especially vulnerable to those struggles. Support is out there,” Gomez wrote.
“And by standing together, we can make a real difference in teen mental health.”
Header image courtesy of Google.org
