Google partners with Selena Gomez to fund teen mental health projects in schools

Amid growing concerns over the mental health crisis among children in the United States, Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org, has announced a significant investment in high school wellbeing projects. On Monday, Google.org funded all mental health-related listings on DonorsChoose, a classroom crowdfunding platform where public school teachers request supplies. The initiative, backed by $10 million in new donations and the involvement of actress Selena Gomez, aims to prioritize mindfulness and mental health as educational goals as the new academic year begins.

This funding effort is part of Google.org’s broader commitment to children’s mental health and online safety, which has now been increased to $25 million. The move comes in response to the rising levels of childhood depression, anxiety, and behavioral issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the increased need for psychological support in schools, experts note that philanthropic contributions toward mental health have not kept pace.

Justin Steele, Director for the Americas at Google.org, emphasized the importance of Google’s role in addressing these issues, stating that the initiative is “one part of contributing to positive solutions.” He highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that searches for "teen mental health" have doubled over the past four years. “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.”

The initiative also includes $500 vouchers for eligible DonorsChoose campaigns in the near future, further supporting mental health resources in classrooms. This effort comes as Google faces criticism and legal challenges over the role of its subsidiary, YouTube, in contributing to the mental health crisis among children through addictive design features.