The unprecedented mental health crisis facing American children is often surfacing in the places where they spend most of their day: school. With that in mind, Google's philanthropic arm is directly funding well-being projects in high schools with its classroom crowdfunding platform.
Google.org on Monday funded a mental health listing on DonorsChoose, an online charity whose members help buy supplies requested by public school teachers. With a new donation of $10 million and the help of actress Selena Gomez, the Silicon Valley giant hopes to put mindfulness at the center of its educational goals at the start of the new school year.
School districts are reaching out to teachers for psychological support after the coronavirus pandemic caused an alarming rise in depression, anxiety and fighting among children, but experts say the increased attention hasn't translated into an overall increase in philanthropic mental health funding.
Google.org earlier this year committed to supporting nonprofits that support children's mental health and online safety, and Monday's announcement increased the donation to $25 million, with the company also offering $500 vouchers for eligible DonorsChoose campaigns in the near future.
The move comes amid widespread criticism and lawsuits that Google-owned YouTube and other social media sites are contributing to a children's mental health crisis by designing features that are intentionally addictive.
Justin Steele, Americas director for Google.org, said the initiative underscores Google's efforts to lead this “important conversation” and “be part of contributing to positive solutions.”
The company's internet browser data also shows growing interest: Searches for “teen mental health” have doubled in the past four years, Steele said.
“Of course, we want to enable people to take advantage of all the great things that technology has to offer,” Steele said, “but we also want to enable them to do so in a way that is healthy and safe.”
Google.org will donate a total of $6 million to DonorsChoose. The tech company also announced $1.5 million to the Jed Foundation, the Steve Foundation and the Child Mind Institute, which focus on the mental health of youth, people of color and children, respectively. The organizations will organize 30-minute training sessions to help teachers navigate new mental health challenges. Teachers will earn $200 in DonorsChoose credits upon completion of the course.
Gomez's Rare Impact Fund, which aims to pump more money into this “underfunded space,” has received $1.25 million.
The “Only Murders in the Building” star has been open about her bipolar disorder diagnosis. In a blog post on Monday, Gomez said she knows firsthand that “caring adults” can make a big difference for teenagers.
“As young people find their way in society, it is critical that they receive guidance in developing healthy, positive, and productive mental health habits,” Gomez wrote. “Few are in a better position to help with this than teachers.”
The need to address behavioral issues in high schools was further highlighted by a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which released data on August 6 showing that the percentage of students experiencing bullying or missing school due to safety concerns was higher than in previous years.
To be sure, Allison Neiman, executive director of Mindful Philanthropy, acknowledged that increased attention to mental health has led to a slight uptick in funding for nonprofits in the field, but she said the funding hasn't kept pace with the new level of awareness.
One big obstacle, Neiman said, is that donors don't know which solutions work. School-based mental health support is one of the most effective treatments, she said. Many students start their journey there, finding a trusted adult in their care — a teacher or coach.
Donors' Choice CEO Alix Guerrier stressed that teachers are not a substitute for mental-health professionals, but she said Donors' Choice has seen a fourfold increase in mental-health requests in the past four years, including things like saucer chairs for “calming places” and stuffed meditation toys to encourage deep breathing.
“There is no limit to a teacher's creativity,” Guerrier said.
Mental health has long been a priority for teacher Irene Gendrano Adao in her Los Angeles classroom, where the high school English teacher starts each lesson by asking her students to take three deep breaths and calm down. Posters on the walls are designed to boost students' self-esteem.
She said Donors' Choice gave her the freedom to creatively engage with her students, especially when the district doesn't have the funds to meet needs that arise in real time. During the pandemic, as Asian Americans have faced racist attacks, she acquired a graphic novel about Asian American identity.
She hopes the additional funding will encourage educators to prioritize mental health.
“Schools are transforming in ways that are essential to recovering from the post-pandemic disruptions,” she said. “There's investment there. People are looking at us and wanting to see us come back better and healthier.”
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