NEW YORK, NY – Headstream, a SecondMuse initiative aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of adolescents in marginalized communities, today announced the latest version of its K-12 Mental Health Tech Navigator, a free, one-stop resource designed to help school administrators, district leaders, and state agencies navigate the process of identifying and implementing digital tools that improve access to mental health support for students.
Fifty-eight percent of schools across the U.S. reported that the number of students seeking school-based mental health services increased year-over-year, and over that same time period, there was a 61% increase in concerns expressed by staff about students exhibiting depression, anxiety, trauma, or emotional dysregulation. Additionally, in a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 29% of students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness also reported an unmet need for counseling or therapy.
Among the new offerings is AI-Enabled Mental Health Technologies in K-12 Schools, a practical guide developed by The Jed Foundation in collaboration with Headstream to help schools evaluate AI-enabled mental health tools and consider safety, privacy, student well-being, community input, and implementation. Technology is shifting rapidly, and school settings require a different vetting process than traditional office environments. This guide was developed with students' needs and the realities of staff and district leaders in mind.
“Schools are facing unprecedented funding challenges, and our goal is to help relieve that financial strain and help as many districts as possible to augment their in-person staff with digital products that meaningfully expand access to quality care,” said David Ball, Head of Well-Being at SecondMuse. “We know that exploring and rolling out new digital health products to students requires care and expertise. The Navigator gives education leaders confidence that they are integrating tools that put the best interests of their students and staff first.”
The Navigator was created by Headstream in partnership with The Jed Foundation, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, and the National Center for School Mental Health. The Navigator guides leaders through the entire process of adopting digital mental health tools. Its resources cover five key areas: assessing student needs, driving community engagement, easing product assessment, exploring funding sources, and advising on thoughtful implementation. The guide is intentionally comprehensive, knowing the need to reach more students is urgent. Each stage of the process is designed to build on the one before, creating a strong and growing foundation for success.
“AI is adding another layer of complexity to decisions about digital mental health technologies. School and district leaders need to consider not only whether these tools are effective, but whether they support their students, what safeguards are necessary, and how they fit within a broader system of mental health support,” said Jennifer Reed, Senior Director of School and District Programs for The Jed Foundation. “This guide can help leaders navigate those decisions and make choices that reflect the needs of their students and their families, staff, and school communities.”
District and school leaders can begin engaging with the Navigator by taking the needs assessment, watching the What to Expect from the K-12 Mental Health Tech Navigator video, or exploring our webinars on the Navigator resources webpage.
Since its inception, Headstream has supported 95 edtech, well-being, and social tech startups, reached over 49M users through startups that participated in the Accelerator and Residency programs, and engaged 140 youth co-creators in its programming. If you are interested in partnering or collaborating with the Headstream community to scale these innovations, please contact us at hello@headstreaminnovation.com.
About Headstream
Headstream, an innovation program by SecondMuse, exists to improve the mental well-being of adolescents, with a focus on systemically excluded communities including BIPOC, Latino, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Headstream reshapes how the health, education, and social tech systems prioritize youth mental health. Learn more about our programs at: https://www.headstreaminnovation.com/
About SecondMuse
SecondMuse is a leading innovation company dedicated to creating economic value through market-driven solutions that advance climate and well-being. We work with clients to fuel sustainable growth while delivering measurable benefits for businesses, communities, and the planet. For over 15 years, we have designed, developed, and implemented programs that support entrepreneurs and financial solutions that open new markets, expand access to capital, and drive economic transformation. Our work spans 190+ countries and territories. Learn more at https://www.secondmuse.com/
JED is committed to protecting emotional health and preventing suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. JED partners with high schools, colleges, school districts, and youth-serving community-based organizations to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. JED equips teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other, and encourages community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.
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Media Contact
Molly Galler, Public Relations, SecondMuse, molly.galler@secondmuse.com
Justin Barbo, PR Director, The Jed Foundation (JED), justin@jedfoundation.org
