Google and Selena Gomez join forces for teen mental health

Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund is set to benefit from a significant $10 million investment by Google, aimed at supporting five nonprofits focused on youth mental health and education. This funding is part of Google’s Teen Mental Health Initiative, which seeks to provide mental health instructional materials to one million high school students and educators. The initiative comes in response to growing concerns and lawsuits alleging that platforms like YouTube contribute to a mental health crisis among children by promoting addictive features. Experts, including psychologist David Campbell, have voiced concerns about the negative impact of social media on mental health. Campbell likens the addictive nature of social media to substance abuse, stating that these platforms are designed to keep users engaged through a reward system that exploits psychological vulnerabilities. In light of these issues, minimalist smartphones have emerged as a solution to help users limit their screen time. Gomez, a prominent advocate for mental health awareness, has called on educators to utilize resources available through DonorsChoose to enhance mental health initiatives in classrooms. Research indicates that over 70 percent of public school teachers are worried about their students' mental health, highlighting the urgent need for support in educational settings. In a recent Instagram post, Gomez expressed gratitude for Google’s support, emphasizing the importance of fostering strong mental health habits among high school students. Having openly shared her own struggles with bipolar disorder, Gomez aims to raise awareness and promote understanding of mental health challenges faced by many.