The Challenge

In the U.S., low-income youth, especially in communities of color, experience frightening or threatening situations—from financial hardship to physical violence—with alarming regularity. As a result, many low-income youth of color experience high levels of stress that can negatively affect their behavior, cognitive capacity, and emotional and physical health. Yet their communities often have less access to emotional support services to help them manage this stress than higher-income populations.

The majority of accessible support services for low-income youth focus on one-time crisis response rather than holistic, preventative approaches such as routine mental health care. This approach is not only ineffective for tackling underlying challenges and building coping skills, but also inefficient, costing Medicaid plans four times more in spending on members with behavioral health diagnoses.

The Innovation

MindRight offers daily mental health coaching over text message for low-income youth and young adults of color. By communicating via text message, MindRight is radically increasing access to trauma-informed, culturally-responsive support.

Young people can sign up free of charge by sending a text to MindRight’s number. Users are then assigned to a team of coaches that proactively checks in with them every day by text message to listen without judgment, offer support, and help them build skills to manage their emotions and stress. By checking in every day, MindRight’s coaches both support users through their challenges and celebrate their wins. As needed, MindRight is also able to connect its users to additional clinical interventions and resources.

The Impact

MindRight partners with Medicaid payors and public schools serving majority low-income students of color. In early surveys, 97% of users reported an improved ability to manage stress after utilizing the platform.

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