Margaret Laws’ Post

🎉 BREAKING NEWS 🎉 Nominations are now open for the 2024 Young Innovators in Behavioral Health Awards! Hopelab, Behavioral Health Tech, Pivotal Ventures, Resonance Philanthropies, and Manatt Health are thrilled to co-present the 2024 Young Innovators in Behavioral Health Awards. We believe young people are having an incredible impact and have the potential to do even more! We want to spotlight these individuals and amplify their ideas, voices, and influence. Learn more, nominate a young leader, or nominate yourself! https://lnkd.in/dwHTr6kg

Hopelab is seeking a research intern! Come work with our amazing team, build awesome skills across research, collaboration in youth mental health and well-being, in an amazing team! Hopelab is seeking a part-time research intern to support the creation of publications and public-facing resources focused on the intersection of technology and youth mental health, particularly among those who are BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+. The intern will integrate into Hopelab’s research team and have the opportunity to learn from and interact with other Hopelab teams. This role is great for a graduate student with strong writing skills and experience in data analysis who is passionate about Hopelab’s mission to understand and influence the intersection of technology and youth mental health! https://lnkd.in/gyJSzpHM

Come work with me! The Hopelab Ventures team is growing. We're seeking a mission-driven Principal Investor to source new investment opportunities, manage our deal pipeline, sit on company boards, bring a robust network of potential partners, and play an active role advising our portfolio companies. This role is great for someone who is passionate about our mission, has experience with investing and/or working with startups, and is keen to be an external-facing representative of Hopelab. If you or someone you know might be a fit, please see the job description here: https://lnkd.in/gxy3utSV

New research found natural disasters and pollution linked to #climatechange are contributing factors to high rates of anxiety and depression among young people. Researchers from San Francisco-based Hopelab consulted experts and interviewed youth climate activists to determine how climate effects like wildfire, extreme heat, drought, flooding, and air pollution affect young people's mental health. Emma Bruehlman-Senecal, research lead for Hopelab, is the author of the group's Climate Generation blog. "We are focusing on climate change because Hopelab's mission is to support the mental well-being of young people, particularly those from communities that have been underinvested in," Bruehlman-Senecal explained. "It's clear that climate change is deeply impacting youth mental health, particularly the well-being of youth of color." Hopelab's findings recommended more funding for youth-led activism but also to make mental health services more accessible by locating them in places where young people spend time, such as schools and community centers. Another Bay Area nonprofit, YouthTruth Survey, paired up with the Sonoma County Office of Education to survey students over the past eight years. Jessica Progulske, YouthTruth lead for the county, said after 2017, when thousands of homes burned down in a series of wildfires, reports of depression and anxiety shot up. "Some of the early research around resiliency indicates that the ability to do something about it, as a student, has the potential to offset some of the later health risks associated with childhood adversity," Progulske noted. "In spite of climate change and climate anxiety and dread that comes with it." The Community Foundation of Sonoma County launched the Environmental Justice Coalition, which partners groups of students with a mentor to work on local environmental issues. Jimmy Simpson, Jr., director of partnerships for YouthTruth, said the disruption of the wildfires, followed by COVID, took a toll early on. "There was a definite correlation between students significantly impacted, relating to less positive perceptions around engagement in school," Simpson reported. "As well as their sense of belonging, and academics." More recent surveys showed while the immediate effects of the firestorm have lessened, episodes of anxiety and depression continue to affect school performance. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness Disclosure: YouthTruth contributes to our fund for reporting on Education, Philanthropy, and Youth Issues.

Meet the winners of the Inaugural Young Innovators in Behavioral Health Awards Program! Created in partnership with Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and Going Digital: Behavioral Health Tech, the 30 winners are recognized for their contributions to access, awareness, and advancement of digital mental health care for young people across the country. Congratulations! #BHT2023 https://bit.ly/3FZiScP

Join us at #HLTH in Las Vegas on October 9 (11am) at a special breakout session: The Medicaid Sessions. Connect with #Medicaid experts from Healthnet, UnitedHealthcare, Healthfirst, Contra Costa Health Plan, Manatt Health, and more to refine your strategy and learn how to successfully scale. Advance RSVP @https://lnkd.in/gcVP-f7m Special thanks to support from CHCF Health Innovation Fund, Hopelab, StartUp Health, Health Tech 4 Medicaid, Medicaid Innovation Collaborative, Town Hall Ventures, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP Excited to see everyone and support this growing ecosystem!