Selena Gomez has teamed up with Google to launch a mental health initiative aimed at supporting teenagers. This partnership will provide mental health training in schools and mindfulness resources to help students cope with mental health challenges.

A 2022 mental health report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that from 2018 to 2019, nearly 15% of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 experienced a major depressive episode, and 37% reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. These figures may be even higher for marginalized groups such as students of color and first-generation students. In response, Selena Gomez has joined forces with Google to launch an initiative that includes mental health training in schools and the creation of resources for mindfulness. Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, has pledged $10 million to support several mental health and education organizations, including DonorsChoose, The JED Foundation, Child Mind Institute, The Steve Fund, and Gomez's own Rare Impact Fund.

Selena Gomez shared her thoughts on the initiative in a blog post, saying, "Being a teenager can often feel difficult and isolating. We need to provide teens with the tools and resources to help them develop strong mental health habits."

Why is Selena Gomez launching a mental health initiative aimed at students?

Having grown up under intense public scrutiny, Selena Gomez became acutely aware of the pressure placed on young people and its impact on their mental well-being. Her personal journey, including the publicization of her struggles, led her to openly share her experience with bipolar disorder and her decision to seek treatment in a rehabilitation facility. In her Apple TV+ documentary *My Mind and Me*, Gomez discusses how these experiences reshaped both her career and her sense of purpose.

Selena Gomez reflects, "I know firsthand that caring adults who truly understand can make all the difference in a teenager’s life. Few are in a better position to help than teachers."

How the Initiative Works

Google has pledged $500 for each mindfulness project posted on DonorsChoose. Teachers will also earn $200 in credit for completing any of the half-hour mental health training sessions provided by the nonprofit. Some of the items funded through DonorsChoose include items like saucer chairs for a designated “calm corner,” meditative stuffed animals, and wall posters featuring uplifting affirmations.

Aileen Gendrano Adao, a teacher in Los Angeles, shares that the extra funding has enabled her to buy a wide range of graphic novels, including those that highlight Asian-American culture. She also encourages her students to take three deep breaths to center themselves before class begins. 'Schools are evolving in a way that's essential and crucial for healing after the chaos of the pandemic,' she says. 'People are noticing us and want to see us become whole and better again.'