In the midst of a mental health crisis around schools in the U.S, the online platform Google launched a wellbeing project on August 12, 2024. Since then, Google has covered the cost for mental-health related listings on DonorsChoose, a popular online charity. Ten million dollars has been funded, with the help of actress Selena Gomez joining Google in this project.  

Many of these mental health related issues come from the psychological effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. The well-being project was composed mainly for a teenage audience attending schools because most of these mental health crises are showing in students throughout their academic and social life.

At Bishop Gorman the effect of students prior and post covid is evident, wellness counselor Mrs. Cross states, “The mental health now I can definitely see a difference of how it was before and then after…I think there’s definitely students who are struggling.” So it’s established that a difference is prevalent but what is it?

Nurse Young provided her input about current high school students, “they have less coping skills then previous years” followed by students “losing that ability of how to walk into a room and say hello to someone.”

Mrs. Cross states “The re-entry back into society took a little bit of time for people to get used to being around people again, and for things to happen in real time.” 

In the last four years teen mental health has doubled “while the physical effects from COVID-19 gotten under control, we still have a lot of work to do on the mental effects” states Ava Smith ‘25.