#United States #mental health #Los Angeles #Closegap #Koko

Strategic Partnership Between Closegap and Koko

In a significant development in youth mental health support, Closegap has announced a collaboration with Koko, a recognized leader in digital single-session interventions (SSIs). This partnership aims to enhance mental health care within K-12 schools across the United States, where Closegap's platform has already recorded over 9 million check-ins from students. This innovative integration brings Koko's clinically validated support tools directly into schools, offering immediate assistance to students in distress.

A New Approach to Student Support

The integration allows educators to act swiftly on data gathered during daily check-ins on the Closegap platform. For instance, when a student identifies a struggle—be it related to body image, self-harm, or mental health—the platform facilitates direct access to Koko’s SSIs. These brief, effective sessions provide students with tools and strategies to navigate their challenges, all within a streamlined response system designed to enhance educational environments.

Rachel Miller, the Founder and CEO of Closegap, emphasizes the importance of addressing students' mental health needs in both online and school settings. By merging the capabilities of Closegap and Koko, educators can utilize real-time data to ensure students receive timely, evidence-based support. She notes, “Students are asking for help in two main places—in school and online. Integrating our systems helps educators close the loop by connecting students with timely support.”

The Impact of Single-Session Interventions

Koko’s single-session interventions are quick, taking only 5 to 10 minutes, yet they are designed to impart valuable skills to students. Research led by Dr. Jessica L. Schleider at Northwestern University laid the groundwork for these interventions, and data indicates that nearly 70% of users report increased hopefulness after completing targeted modules. Moreover, about 50% of users notice improvements in their body image perceptions post-intervention.

Jared B. Fries, Director of Partnerships at Closegap, affirms the significance of these tools: “Counselors are overwhelmed and short on time. A 10-minute, evidence-based intervention that students can complete quickly is incredibly valuable. It allows them to receive necessary support without lengthy wait times.”

What This Means for Schools

Upon identifying student distress through Closegap, educators can now leverage Koko's SSIs effectively. The following interventions will be available:

• - Body Neutrality: Helping students shift from harmful body image perceptions towards a balanced self-view.
• - Self-Harm Strategies: Providing students with evidence-based methods to cope with urges to self-harm, promoting healthier ways to manage their feelings.
• - Safety Planning: Assisting students in constructing personalized safety plans to utilize when experiencing suicidal thoughts, ensuring they engage trusted adults.

Fries notes that this partnership meets three crucial criteria for schools: it is grounded in independent research, it aligns with tight school schedules, and it enhances existing counseling resources by addressing urgent needs efficiently.

A Collaborative Vision for the Future

In light of the shortage of school counselors in the U.S., estimated at nearly 77,000, both Miller and Koko co-founder Rob Morris advocate for cross-sector collaboration to better serve the mental health needs of students. Morris states, “The mental health of students is complex and nuanced. They deserve a range of options for support. Partnerships like this increase our chances of offering relevant assistance when and where students most need it.”

The Koko SSIs are set to be implemented in schools that partner with Closegap for the 2025-26 academic year, paving the way for a new era in youth mental health support.

About Closegap

Closegap is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving youth mental health by revolutionizing how schools care for their students. Their platform offers comprehensive mental health check-ins and a library of interventions aimed at cultivating essential social-emotional skills among PK-12 students. Trusted by numerous schools nationwide, Closegap provides free solutions while offering premium options for district-wide tracking of interventions.

For more details, visit closegap.org.

About Koko

Koko is on a mission to address the youth mental health crisis through innovative digital support tailored to online environments. With a reach of over 6 million users across 199 countries, Koko's validated tools have been shown to effectively engage students, providing essential mental health resources right where they are most active.

Learn more at kokocares.org.