Schools For Strong Minds

Giving school leaders actionable data and insights to promote emotional wellness, cultivate resilience, and empower student success

SCHOOLS ARE AT THE FRONT LINE OF THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

Data from our Global Mind Project shows that over 50% of adolescents are struggling with their mental wellbeing. 30% indicate having thoughts of suicide or self-harm.

Measuring and understanding the mental wellbeing of your students helps you identify key drivers, make changes that move the needle, and equip your students to take on the challenges and opportunities of life.

The Schools for Strong Minds Program

Schools for Strong Minds provides a data-driven view of the mental wellbeing of your students, together with actionable insights on lifestyle habits, school environment, and campus culture that are drivers of poor outcomes.

How it works

Students complete a questionnaire on their mental wellbeing and receive a personalized report with feedback and guidance
You receive a detailed Schools for Strong Minds Report with insights into school culture, policies, and processes
Take action by changing policies and programs based on your school profile
Re-run the questionnaire to understand the impact of changes and track metrics over time

Learn More

Learn About the Root Causes of Youth Mental Wellbeing Decline

Early smartphone ownership

Mental wellbeing consistently improves with older age of first ownership of a smartphone or tablet, especially among females. One possible reason for this trend? The data shows that the “social self,” how we view ourselves and relate to others, improved dramatically and problems with suicidal thoughts declined steeply with older age of first smartphone ownership. Read more about smartphones and mental wellbeing.

Deterioration of friendships

There is a decline across generations in the proportion of people reporting that they had friends who they could confide in or who would help them out. Only 64% of 18-24 year olds had friends that they could confide in, and only 51% had friends who would help them out. Learn more about the state of friendships and their impact on mental wellbeing.

Ultra-processed food consumption

Regularly eating ultra-processed foods has a negative impact on mental wellbeing. Over half of those who eat ultra-processed food daily are distressed or struggling with their mental health, compared to just 18% of those who rarely or never consume ultra-processed food. Read more about the specific effects of UPF in our report.

Frequency of Exercise

Exercise has a significant impact on mental wellbeing. Those who exercised 30 minutes per day had an average MHQ (mental health quotient) that was 46 points higher than those who rarely or never exercised. Read more about the impact of exercise on mental wellbeing.

Participate in our Program

We are seeking 10 secondary schools to participate in this new program funded with the generous support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). These schools will take part in the program and work with us to co-create best practice solutions. Schools should have the following profile: