Mental Health Matters (MHM) 2024 Grant

How the MHM Grant is Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in Schools

The statistics are concerning: nearly 44% of teenagers struggle with mental health issues, with 75% of mental illnesses starting in adolescence. Yet, worryingly, almost half of these struggling teens do not seek help. Students are often left to grapple with mental health challenges alone, leading to rising rates of anxiety, depression, suicide, and more.

Teachers bear witness to this crisis daily. According to a survey by the American Federation of Teachers, a staggering 93% of teachers express concerns about their students' mental health. However, only 15% of these educators feel equipped to address these challenges. In a post-pandemic world where the need for mental health support has surged, providing mental health literacy resources have never been more evident.

Grant Overview

The Mental Health Matters Grant is a financial assistance program established by Lenny Learning (LL - formerly Brain Health Bootcamp) to facilitate the adoption of its mental health education & intervention platform by K-12 educational institutions.

This grant program aligns with LL's mission to provide essential resources to schools seeking to enhance the well-being of their students through evidence-based mental health education.

The objective of the grant is to underwrite a significant portion of the expenses incurred in adopting LL's programs by schools that demonstrate a financial deficit to wholly support these initiatives. On average, the grant bestows an award of $15,000, with certain grants reaching up to $75,000.

How to Apply

Applying for the Mental Health Matters Grant is a straightforward process designed to minimize administrative burden and streamline access to essential mental health resources for educational institutions. The entire process usually can be completed within 1-2 weeks.

1. Submit the online application by (note that this is first-come first-serve, so early applications are highly recommended): https://brainhealthbootcamp.typeform.com/schoolgrant
2. Interview with a team member
3. Optional second interview before acceptance & agreement forms and delivered

By submitting this grant application, the applicant expressly grants Lenny Learning the right to use and disclose the fact of their application, including organizational details, for internal, external, and program support purposes. This may include reports, announcements, and materials aimed at sustaining and enhancing the grant program.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Mental Health Matters Grant, educational institutions must meet the following requirements:

• Schools must demonstrate a financial need for grant support due to budget constraints or show that a substantial portion of the student population is underserved. Priority will be given to schools that serve underserved populations, but all qualifying institutions are encouraged to apply.
• Eligible institutions should express a clear intent to adopt and effectively integrate LL's mental health literacy and suicide prevention programs into their curriculum.
• Recipient schools are expected to commit to covering a portion of the program costs, typically between 10% and 50%. This commitment ensures a strong partnership and underscores the school's dedication to enhancing mental health education. We no longer offer a grant program that covers the entire cost of the program.

The Grant operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Renewal eligibility is contingent upon the recipient school's adherence to the following requirements:

• Teacher and Student Interviews: Recipient schools must support LL in facilitating interviews with teachers and students within the range of 3 to 12 months after receiving grant support. Typically, interviews are scheduled at the 6-month mark. These interviews serve to evaluate the program's impact and gather insights for improvement.
• Optional Site Visit: LL reserves the right to conduct site visits at the recipient school's premises, which may include interviews with teachers and students. The purpose of these visits is to assess program implementation and gather feedback.
• Appropriate Program Utilization: Schools must ensure the proper and effective utilization of LL's mental health literacy and suicide prevention programs in their educational environment, as laid in the Terms of Use.

As part of the Grant Program, the Grantor and Grantee may collaborate to create a promotional video showcasing the impact of the Grantor's mental health literacy programs and the Grantee's participation in these programs. The Grantee agrees to work in cooperation with the Grantor to facilitate the production of the video. This collaboration may include, but is not limited to, providing access to facilities, staff interviews, and program participants as mutually agreed upon.