A guide to choosing and using digital interventions for student well-being
The K-12 Mental Health Tech Navigator is here to help schools and districts choose and use effective digital tools for student mental health and well-being. Wherever possible, we've included guidance on how to integrate these digital health products into a broader, more comprehensive approach to student mental health. To get the most from it, we recommend following our digital health product procurement journey.
While digital health products can provide important support to students, integrating these products effectively requires care and expertise. We hope these resources will support you in this process, and welcome your feedback as we continue to make improvements in the coming years.
Learn More About the K12 Navigator
Start your Journey
Assess Student Needs
Assess Student Needs
Assess Student Needs
Define the core student mental health challenges to address, whether it’s a shortage of care providers, gaps in preventative education, or other issues. This is a critical step to ensuring that students are present, healthy, ready to learn, and prepared for success.
Community Engagement
Stakeholder Engagement
Community Engagement
Engaging key community partners, like school counselors and community mental health providers, is essential when implementing digital mental health tools. Explore how involving the right partners can help assess student needs, select effective products, identify funding, and ensure successful adoption.
Product Assessment
Product Assessment
Product Assessment
Navigate a vast array of tech products with ease with our curated list of digital mental well-being products. Identify key factors and questions to find the perfect fit for your students.
Funding
Funding
Funding
Explore expert recommendations on braiding funding for digital mental health products. Learn about financial strategies to resource your initiatives.
Implementation
Implementation
Implementation
Get specific guidance on how to identify quality products that match your school’s needs and training.
Not sure where to start?
Take our quick quiz and get a personalized path to the content that matters most to you
The Challenge
Schools are facing the critical issue of supporting and fostering student mental health and well-being. Since 2020, 70% of public schools have reported an increase in students seeking mental health services. But this challenge can't be addressed alone. Schools don't have enough resources, and there is a lack of service providers across the country.
While in-person, school-based mental health initiatives are vital, digital strategies can be used to augment in-person support. Technology-based solutions are a key resource for supporting youth well-being at scale, particularly for adolescents. These tools can make it easier for students to access care, enable adults to intervene early, and support all students with strategies to manage their mental health.
of public schools have reported an increase in the number of students seeking mental health services since 2020.
A Collaborative Project Amongst Experts in Youth Mental Health, Education & Technology.
Headstream Innovation, a program by SecondMuse, is committed to leading and coordinating efforts to increase the utilization of digital well-being solutions in school systems and out-of-school programs.
As part of this work, Headstream convened a diverse group of 12 leaders in the space whose collaboration resulted in a Roadmap outlining 10 key recommendations for action. These recommendations laid the foundation for the K-12 Mental Health Tech Navigator, developed in partnership with The Jed Foundation and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, who brought invaluable expertise and perspectives to building this resource. To learn more, visit Headstream's K-12 Well-being Program.
Our Partners
Headstream, an innovation program by SecondMuse, is on a mission to improve the mental well-being of adolescents, particularly those communities who have been historically and systemically excluded. Since its inception, Headstream has taken a multi-pronged approach to transform the systems that most influence youth development by centering young people’s mental well-being. To date, our initiatives have positively impacted over 48 million youth, and we’re committed to reaching 50 million total by 2026. Learn more about us at: https://www.headstreaminnovation.com/
The Jed Foundation (JED) is a leading nonprofit that protects mental health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults by partnering with high schools, colleges, and districts to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems; equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other; and encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health. JED is proud to be a part of this initiative because it allows the organization to better tailor its guidance for schools as they work to create holistic mental health and wellness experiences for their students. Learn more about us at: https://jedfoundation.org/
Independent and nonpartisan, the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute works at the intersection of policy and programs to create equitable systemic changes so all people in Texas, the United States, and the world can obtain the health care they need. Meadows is proud to be a part of this initiative to provide practical support to school districts and schools in utilizing digital mental health and well-being products. Leveraging innovative solutions such as quality digital tools is one way to offset workforce needs within schools and increase access to mental health care for youth. Learn more about us at: https://mmhpi.org/
All information is provided for educational and informational purposes only, is not exhaustive, and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. None of the partner organizations involved in creating this Navigator receives financial benefits from the use of any specific digital mental health products.
This work Is Just Getting Started
Want to get involved or follow our progress?