By Minh Le, Principal Instructional Designer

Mental health challenges among adolescents have reached critical levels in the U.S., with nearly 20% of children and young people ages 3-17 experiencing mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and a more than 40% increase in suicidal behaviors among high school students in the decade before 2019. As demands grow, especially among marginalized groups such as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and low-income youth, school systems struggle to provide culturally competent support.

In response, I joined Headstream’s Student Mental Wellbeing Working Group, a coalition of education leaders, edtech organizations, policymakers, young people, educators, and innovators, to tackle these issues through expanding the utilization of culturally competent and age-appropriate digital interventions. This multi-year initiative aims to shape sustainable, accessible mental health solutions for both schools and out-of-school programs. Recently concluding its first phase, the initiative set out to define a strategic vision, goals, and priorities to enhance the use of digital mental well-being tools. They released a roadmap that empowers schools, funders, and policymakers to support student mental health with a set of concrete, practical, and immediately actionable recommendations. 

The mission of the working group, which aligns strongly with DFI’s commitment to 'Technology for Social Good' and Teachers College President Thomas Bailey's Public Good Initiative, centers on addressing the lack of mental health support for young people, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, who often turn to schools as primary sources of care. “We wanted to reach more young people by working within schools,” explained David Ball, Headstream’s Senior Director. Recognizing that schools are under-resourced and educators lack formal training to serve as mental health providers, the group aims to supplement these systems through digital tools that enhance the existing support structure. 

“Personally, I’m not a tech enthusiast who thinks technology alone is the solution. I believe in the importance of human care providers, like teachers and counselors. But, given the shortage of these professionals, we’re exploring how technology can support them to meet the growing demand for mental health care,” Ball noted, highlighting the group's proactive approach to supporting school care providers through digital tools that amplify their work.

During four months of collaboration, with the practicalities and resource constraints that currently exist in US school systems in mind, the working group refined over a dozen potential focus areas to four key action areas that would drive meaningful change. The culmination of the working group’s efforts is a roadmap that includes ten recommendations and accompanying action plan together with stakeholders, timelines, and resources needed for implementation. Key recommendations range from creating a directory of mental health tools to developing funding models that support the integration of these technologies within school settings. This roadmap serves as a practical guide for educational institutions, policymakers, and funders aiming to leverage digital solutions to address student mental health needs.

In developing this roadmap, the working group considered the need for scalable solutions that are adaptable to schools with varying resource levels. “We focused on creating solutions that are adaptable to each school’s unique student body and resources,” said Sabrina Abdalla. “It’s essential to recognize that students bring diverse lived experiences, and neighborhoods face different challenges, so it’s not about a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we wanted schools to have the flexibility to implement tools that are both scalable and relevant, leveraging the specific assets and resources available within their communities.”

Digital interventions, when implemented thoughtfully, have proven highly effective in supporting students’ mental health. These tools range from mobile apps and telehealth platforms that connect students with counselors to screening tools that identify mental health concerns early. By integrating these technologies, schools can provide targeted support to students, whether through regular check-ins, mood tracking, or cognitive-behavioral techniques available on digital platforms. “Thoughtfully integrated digital interventions are essential for supporting students’ mental health while equipping teachers with the resources they need to help their students effectively,” noted Abdalla. “These tools not only help identify early signs of mental health concerns, but they also enable students to access support more proactively. By providing educators with the necessary resources, we empower them to focus on their primary role of teaching while enhancing their ability to support students' mental well-being, ultimately fostering youth well-being and a more productive learning environment.”

In discussing these interventions, Ball noted, “Digital tools should not replace the human connections that teachers, counselors, and social workers provide. Instead, they should supplement these professionals by expanding their reach.” This focus on augmenting rather than replacing human support reflects the working group’s dedication to using technology responsibly and effectively.

The roadmap emphasizes a collaborative approach to implementing digital interventions, urging educators and policymakers to play an active role. For educators, digital tools can reduce the pressure to serve as primary mental health support providers, allowing them to focus on their core educational roles while providing a structured way for students to access mental health resources.

From a policy perspective, the roadmap underscores the importance of funding and institutional support. Suggested actions include advocating for Medicaid and state-level policy changes that prioritize digital mental health tools, creating buyer’s guides to help schools make informed purchasing decisions, and conducting awareness campaigns that build trust in these tools among educators and students alike.

The release of this roadmap is just the beginning. Headstream plans to continue developing resources and partnerships to bring these recommendations to life. In the coming months, the working group will focus on expanding awareness of digital mental health tools and integrating mental health into the broader conversation on K-12 education priorities. By increasing engagement with stakeholders across education, policy, and mental health sectors, Headstream aims to drive a broader cultural shift toward prioritizing youth mental health in schools.

Headstream, an innovation program by SecondMuse, is dedicated to advancing adolescent mental health, especially within systematically marginalized communities, including BIPOC, Latino, and LGBTQIA+ youth. By developing transformative programs, Headstream has impacted over 10 million young people to date and is committed to expanding its reach to an additional 30 million by 2026. Its multi-pronged approach prioritizes mental health within youth development, recognizing that sustainable change requires innovative systems tailored to meet the diverse needs of vulnerable adolescents.

AI Transparency Statement

As an effort to promote AI awareness and transparency, this statement discloses how AI was used in writing this article. ChatGPT assisted in brainstorming the article's direction and outline, generating interview questions for Headstream representatives, drafting initial iteration, and proofreading to ensure clarity and cohesion. All AI contributions were always guided, verified, and refined by the human author at each stage.