Advancing Tech to Support Student Mental Well-being

For many youth, especially those from systemically excluded communities,  schools are the primary source of mental health care. Yet, a severe shortage of mental health professionals leaves many students without the support they need. Through digital mental well-being interventions, we can empower schools to bridge this gap, ensuring every student receives the mental health care they deserve. 
Our Initiatives
We’re collaborating with individuals and organizations deeply embedded in the education system to build the resources and programs to increase the utilization of evidence-based and culturally competent digital interventions to support student well-being.
The K-12 Mental Health Navigator
A guide to choosing and using digital interventions for student well-being
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The Digital Interventions to Support K-12 Student Mental Health Roadmap
An initiative to increase awareness, enhance existing efforts, and foster collaboration
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Tech for Student Mental Well-being Working Group
A Collaborative Effort to Support K-12 Student Mental Health
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The K-12 Mental Health Navigator:
The Navigator is a resource designed to assist education system leaders, and district administrators by providing a trustworthy guide for utilizing digital mental health interventions tailored to their students.

Through this platform you will be able to:
  1. Identify the problem to solve: Define the core issues you need to address, whether it's a shortage of care providers, gaps in preventative education, or other challenges. 
  2. Gain awareness & trust in tech: Discover successful implementations of tech solutions in various school districts by learning from real-world examples.
  3. Funding Guidance: Explore expert recommendations on securing funding for tech interventions. Learn about financial strategies to support your initiatives.
  4. Select the right products: Navigate the vast array of tech products with ease. Our curated list of digital interventions will help you choose the right tools that meet your specific needs.
  5. Product rollout: Get step-by-step guidance on achieving team buy-in and providing necessary training, leading to smooth and successful adoption.
  6. Assess the product impact: Understand and measure how well your interventions are working and make data-driven adjustments as needed.
Visit the Navigator and start your journey!
The Digital Interventions to Support K-12 Student Mental Health Roadmap
The Roadmap explores how digital interventions such as assessment tools, school counselor support platforms, and telehealth can strengthen a school’s student mental health strategy.

Built with twelve education leaders from the Working Group, the Roadmap outlines the key recommendations to increase the utilization of digital products to support student mental health.

Executive Summary

Understanding the mental well-being needs of each school is an essential step. We recommend assessing the requirements and resources to determine action steps and offering clear direction for effective interventions tailored to address the needs of their students’ mental health.
Learn more here
Explore the four action areas
Action Area #1:

Student Needs Assessment

Understanding the mental well-being needs of each school is an essential step. We recommend assessing the requirements and resources to determine action steps and offering clear direction for effective interventions tailored to address the needs of their students’ mental health.
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Action Area #2:

Awareness and Trust in Digital Mental Well-being Products

Supporting school system stakeholders in understanding, trusting, and valuing digital products for youth mental health is crucial. We recommend equipping school district leaders with the knowledge to make informed purchasing decisions and paving the way for easy adoption and utilization.
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Action Area #3:

Building the Capacity for School Leaders & Care Providers

School leaders face challenges like mental health crises, limited funds, and workforce shortages. Educators, often lack the resources to address student mental health. We recommend helping them choose effective digital tools and creating resources to alleviate stress, reduce burnout, and enhance student support.
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Action Area #4

Sustainable Funding Options

Addressing the financial obstacles hindering the adoption of mental health digital products in schools is critical. We recommend streamlining funding options and introducing alternative processes that empower schools to overcome financial constraints.
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Tech for Student Mental Well-being Working Group
Headstream convened a working group of 12 education system leaders and organizations to address the challenge of increasing the utilization of digital interventions to support student mental health. This diverse group, encompassing expertise in school systems, research, technology, care provision, ed-tech, and policy, aimed to explore how digital interventions can enhance school mental health strategies.  This Roadmap was built with over a dozen leading education system organizations including:

The Jed Foundation
Digital Futures Institute
Hazel Health
InnovateEDU
iThriveGames
LearnLauch Fund + Accelerator

Expand your impact and connect with us

Are you interested in getting involved in this work? Or need support integrating digital interventions in your school or district. Expand your impact and connect with us:
Collaborate with us

According to Common Sense 98% of LGBTQIA+ youth and 90% of Black youth have looked to digital tools for health purposes

+70% of public schools have reported an increase in students seeking mental health services since 2020

Out of the 27 million young people on Medicaid who need mental health care, only 25% receive the support they need. Of those who do get support, over 70% receive it through school-based services.

The 35,000 school psychologists across the nation represent only one-third of the workforce needed to adequately support the mental health needs of young people

DEMAND

The demand for mental health care among young individuals is evident, with an urgent call for supplementary solutions.

ACCESS

Digital products offer an immediate solution to address the pressing challenges while also providing a long-term enhancement to current care approaches.

BOLSTER

Digital products can serve to supplement and expand the limited mental health resources available to young people.

Digital mental health interventions offer tailored support for the mental well-being of young people, addressing their unique needs across various areas:

Supplement

Interventions that complement clinicians and aid care providers in treatment plans.
Appa Health and Sonar

Telehealth

Products designed to increase access to care providers.
Backpack and Hazel Health

Assessment

Tools that facilitate effective identification, screening, tracking, and evaluation, benefit clinical providers and other supportive adults.
Clymb and Closegap

Preventative

Interventions that provide education, awareness, peer support, and other non-clinical approaches to uplift mental well-being.
Healthy HipHop and GiveThx

Increasing the Utilization of Digital Products in Schools

1

IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM TO SOLVE

Are we solving for a shortage of care providers, a lack of assessment, a gap in preventative education, or something else?
2

AWARENESS & TRUST IN TECH

Should tech products be part of solving the problem we identified?
3

HOW CAN WE PAY FOR THE TECH?

If tech products should be part of the solution, how do we pay for them?
4

SELECTING THE RIGHT PRODUCT(S)

There are so many options, how do we select the product that solves our specific challenge and addresses the needs of our stakeholders?
5

PRODUCT ROLL-OUT

These products will not be effective unless there is buy-in and an understanding of how to use the tech
6

ASSESSING PRODUCT IMPACT

How will we know if the product is having the intended impact on solving the challenge we identified?

Through these initiatives, Headstream aims to support the education sector in identifying their needs while simultaneously providing trusted guidance to advance tech for student well-being.

Join us in our mission to enhance the well-being of youth through digital solutions in education. Together, we can make a difference.

Apply Today and Become a Co-Creator in 2024!

The Co-Creator Club is a 5-month virtual program that aims to empower BIPOC, Latinos, and LGBTQIA+ youth to play an integral role in shaping digital products. Through this initiative, we are harnessing the collective wisdom gained from our past initiatives. When you become a co-creator and join our club, you'll enjoy the following benefits

Benefits & Participants' Expectations

  • Financial Support: Get a $2000 stipend for your active participation in a 5-month virtual program 
  • Co-create: Work with innovators who are crafting a digital product dedicated to enhancing teen wellness in one of the three key domains: social technology, education tech, and digital health
  • Explore: Dive into meaningful dialogues with your innovators, delivering purposeful feedback to ensure their innovations resonate, engage, and genuinely serve youth
  • Grow: Immerse yourself in the Headstream community, actively engaging in workshops and embracing a growth mindset as you journey through your role as a youth co-creator
  • Inspire: Let your experience inspire you to sculpt the future you envision
  • Lead: Cultivate invaluable skills and assets, equipping you to become a respected thought leader offering perspective and value to your community.
  • Communicating and Showing Up Responsibly:
    • Commit to Attendance: Regular participation is essential for building relationships and gaining the most from the program. Aim to attend all workshops, co-creations sessions, and meetings you commit to.
    • Engage Actively: Bring your ideas, questions, and insights to discussions. Your unique perspective enhances the collective experience and helps tailor solutions that truly benefit youth.
    • Respect Deadlines: Communicate proactively if you encounter challenges meeting commitments.
    • Practice Accountability: Take ownership of your contributions and interactions.
    • Be open to feedback and willing to learn from both successes and setbacks.
    • Foster Inclusivity: Embrace diverse perspectives and create a welcoming environment for all participants. Your respect and support can foster collaboration and innovation.

Participant’s Expectations

Time Commitment: 7-8 hours total

Join Us If You Are

  • Somebody who not only meets expectations but loves to push boundaries with their ideas
  • A hard worker with a sprinkle of curiosity, color, and vibrancy with a dash of love for learning and making an impact
  • You don’t have to be the social butterfly of the group, you just gotta be your authentic self
  • A dedicated team player who's always up for the challenge
  • An optimist, seeing the digital realm as the playground for a brighter future in teen well-being
  • Always ready to dive headfirst into brainstorming, ready to cook up some wildly innovative and imaginative ideas
  • Fearless in voicing their opinions - we want to let's hear what's on your mind!
  • Maybe you have an interest in being a creator or want to learn more about entrepreneurship, innovation, the future of technology, and overall youth wellness

Eligibility

  • Young people from all backgrounds (ages 13-19)
  • Currently reside in the United States of America

Timeline

November 13th, 2023
Co-Creator Club
Application Opens
December 22nd, 2023
Co-Creator Club
Application Closes
Dec 22 - Jan 22, 2024
Selection
Process
January 23rd, 2024
New Cohort
Announcement
February 5th, 2024
Program
Kickoff
June 28th, 2024
End of
program