Deadline: 30-Jun-2026
The Letters to Strangers Youth Mental Health Education Fellowship supports school-based and youth-serving professionals in the United States who work with high school-age students. The year-long fellowship selects 10 Fellows and provides a $1,000 implementation stipend, free mental health education curriculum materials, 15 professional development hours, monthly training sessions, and access to a national youth mental health education network. The programme focuses on reducing mental health stigma, strengthening student wellbeing, improving emotional literacy, and helping students safely navigate AI chatbots.
Overview
The Letters to Strangers Youth Mental Health Education Fellowship provides resources, training, and support for professionals working with high school students across the United States.
The fellowship helps educators and school-based professionals integrate youth mental health education into their existing school programmes, classrooms, counselling services, or student support activities.
It is designed to reduce stigma around mental health, improve student wellbeing, and strengthen emotional literacy among young people.
Purpose of the Fellowship
The purpose of the fellowship is to equip school-based professionals with practical tools to support youth mental health education.
The programme helps Fellows introduce or strengthen mental health learning in high school settings without requiring prior mental health training.
It also supports professional development for educators and youth-serving professionals who want to create safer, more informed, and more supportive school environments.
Key Focus Areas
The fellowship focuses on youth mental health education, mental health stigma reduction, student wellbeing, emotional literacy, educator professional development, curriculum implementation, school-based mental health support, digital wellbeing, safe student use of AI chatbots, and youth-centered mental health advocacy.
What the Fellowship Provides
The fellowship provides financial support, curriculum resources, training, and professional networking.
Selected Fellows receive:
- A $1,000 implementation stipend
- Curriculum materials valued at more than $200
- A Teachers’ Handbook
- Six copies of a 500-page Youth-for-Youth Mental Health Guidebook
- Physical and digital curriculum materials
- Free shipping of materials
- 15 professional development hours
- A completion certificate
- Monthly one-hour Zoom sessions
- Optional additional webinars
- Access to the Letters to Strangers network
- A digital emotional literacy module focused on AI chatbot safety
The stipend is paid directly to Fellows and is intended to support curriculum implementation in their school or youth-serving setting.
Number of Fellows Selected
The programme will select 10 Fellows from across the United States.
At least half of selected Fellows are expected to come from Title I schools, rural schools, or under-resourced districts.
Stipend Amount
Each selected Fellow will receive a $1,000 implementation stipend.
The stipend helps Fellows integrate mental health education into their school environment in a way that fits their existing schedule, role, and student support structure.
Curriculum Materials
Selected Fellows receive a complete curriculum package at no cost.
The package includes:
- Teachers’ Handbook with key vocabulary
- Classroom activities
- Assessment ideas
- Six copies of a 500-page Youth-for-Youth Mental Health Guidebook
- Physical and digital versions of all materials
These resources are designed to help school professionals teach mental health concepts in an accessible and youth-centered way.
Professional Development Hours
Fellows will earn 15 professional development hours through structured training and implementation activities.
A certificate will be provided upon completion.
Many states and school districts accept third-party professional development certificates, although acceptance may depend on local requirements.
Monthly Training and Networking
Throughout the year, Fellows will participate in monthly one-hour Zoom sessions.
These sessions may feature:
- Mental health professionals
- Youth advocates
- Letters to Strangers representatives
- Fellow educators and school professionals
- Peer learning and discussion opportunities
- Implementation support
- Knowledge-sharing activities
Optional webinars may also be available during the fellowship year.
AI Chatbot Safety and Emotional Literacy Module
The fellowship includes access to a digital emotional literacy module that helps students safely navigate AI chatbots.
This module addresses student use of AI tools such as ChatGPT and Replika.
The curriculum helps students think critically about digital conversations, emotional reliance on AI systems, online safety, boundaries, and responsible use of chatbot tools.
This component is especially relevant as more students use artificial intelligence tools for emotional support, advice, learning, and communication.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility is open to individuals based in the United States who currently work in a school or youth-serving setting with high school-age students.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Teachers
- School counselors
- School administrators
- Deans
- Social workers
- School psychologists
- Youth-serving professionals
- Other school-based staff working with grades 9 through 12
Applicants should be committed to completing the year-long fellowship and integrating the curriculum into their school environment.
School and Student Requirements
Applicants should work with high school-age students, generally in grades 9 through 12.
Schools do not need to have an existing Letters to Strangers Chapter to participate.
The fellowship is open to professionals who want to introduce mental health education for the first time, as well as those who want to strengthen existing student wellbeing programmes.
Priority Applicants
The fellowship particularly encourages applications from professionals working in:
- Title I schools
- Rural schools
- Under-resourced districts
At least half of all selected Fellows are expected to come from these educational settings.
Is Prior Mental Health Training Required?
No. Prior mental health training is not required.
Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in supporting student wellbeing, reducing stigma, and implementing youth mental health education in their school or youth-serving setting.
Why It Matters
Youth mental health is a major concern in schools across the United States.
Many students face stress, anxiety, isolation, stigma, academic pressure, social challenges, and difficulty accessing trusted support.
This fellowship matters because it gives school-based professionals practical tools to improve emotional literacy, reduce stigma, and create supportive conversations around mental health.
The programme also responds to new digital wellbeing challenges by helping students safely navigate AI chatbots and understand the limits of digital emotional support.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear application that explains their role, student population, school context, and plan for using the fellowship resources.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that they are based in the United States and work with high school-age students.
They should also confirm that they can participate in the year-long fellowship and attend monthly Zoom sessions.
Step 2: Describe Your School or Youth-Serving Setting
Applicants should explain where they work and who they serve.
This section may include:
- School or organization type
- Grade levels served
- Student population
- Community context
- Whether the school is Title I, rural, or under-resourced
- Existing mental health or wellbeing support structures
Step 3: Explain Student Mental Health Needs
Applicants should describe the mental health education needs they see among students.
This may include concerns related to:
- Mental health stigma
- Emotional literacy
- Stress and anxiety
- Peer support
- Help-seeking behavior
- Digital wellbeing
- AI chatbot use
- Limited access to mental health education
Step 4: Present an Implementation Plan
Applicants should explain how they will use the curriculum and stipend.
The plan should describe:
- Where the curriculum will be used
- Which students will participate
- How sessions will fit into existing schedules
- Whether activities will take place in classrooms, advisory periods, clubs, counselling settings, or wellness programmes
- How the $1,000 stipend will support implementation
- How student engagement will be encouraged
Step 5: Show Commitment to the Fellowship
Applicants should demonstrate that they can complete the year-long fellowship.
They should explain their willingness to participate in monthly Zoom sessions, training activities, curriculum implementation, and fellowship reporting.
Step 6: Highlight Equity and Access
Applicants working in Title I schools, rural schools, or under-resourced districts should clearly mention this context.
They should explain how fellowship participation will help expand mental health education access for students who may have fewer wellbeing resources.
Step 7: Submit the Application
Applicants should submit the completed application according to the fellowship instructions.
A strong application should be practical, student-centered, and clear about how the fellowship will improve mental health education in the school environment.
Selection Considerations
Applications may be reviewed based on commitment, student need, implementation readiness, and potential impact.
Key selection factors may include:
- Applicant’s role with high school-age students
- Commitment to completing the year-long fellowship
- Clear plan to implement the curriculum
- Demonstrated interest in student wellbeing
- Relevance to mental health stigma reduction
- Potential to reach students effectively
- Need within the school or community
- Priority for Title I, rural, or under-resourced settings
- Willingness to engage in professional development and monthly sessions
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should clearly show how the fellowship will benefit students.
Applicants should:
- Describe their role and student population clearly
- Explain why mental health education is needed in their setting
- Provide a realistic curriculum implementation plan
- Show how the stipend will be used
- Mention any barriers students face in accessing wellbeing support
- Highlight Title I, rural, or under-resourced status if applicable
- Demonstrate commitment to monthly Zoom sessions
- Explain how student wellbeing and emotional literacy will improve
- Show interest in safe AI chatbot navigation and digital wellbeing
- Keep the application focused on practical school-based impact
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid vague or incomplete applications.
Common mistakes include:
- Not clearly showing work with high school-age students
- Providing no clear plan for curriculum implementation
- Treating the fellowship only as a professional development opportunity
- Not explaining student mental health needs
- Ignoring the year-long commitment
- Failing to mention school context or student population
- Not showing how the stipend will support implementation
- Giving unclear answers about availability for monthly sessions
- Overlooking the AI chatbot safety and emotional literacy component
- Not explaining how the curriculum will fit into existing school programmes
FAQ
1. What is the Letters to Strangers Youth Mental Health Education Fellowship?
It is a year-long fellowship that supports U.S.-based school and youth-serving professionals with training, curriculum materials, a stipend, and professional development to strengthen youth mental health education.
2. Who can apply?
Individuals based in the United States who currently work with high school-age students in school or youth-serving settings can apply.
3. How many Fellows will be selected?
The fellowship will select 10 Fellows from across the United States.
4. What funding is provided?
Each Fellow receives a $1,000 implementation stipend paid directly to them.
5. What curriculum materials are included?
Fellows receive a Teachers’ Handbook, six copies of a 500-page Youth-for-Youth Mental Health Guidebook, and physical and digital curriculum materials valued at more than $200.
6. Is prior mental health training required?
No. Prior mental health training is not required, but applicants should show a strong interest in supporting student wellbeing and reducing mental health stigma.
7. Are Title I, rural, and under-resourced schools encouraged to apply?
Yes. The fellowship particularly encourages applicants from Title I schools, rural schools, and under-resourced districts, and at least half of selected Fellows are expected to come from these settings.
Conclusion
The Letters to Strangers Youth Mental Health Education Fellowship offers school-based and youth-serving professionals a practical opportunity to improve mental health education for high school students across the United States. With a $1,000 stipend, free curriculum materials, 15 professional development hours, monthly expert-led sessions, and access to a national network, the fellowship helps educators reduce stigma, build emotional literacy, and support student wellbeing. Applicants should present a clear implementation plan, demonstrate commitment to the year-long programme, and show how the fellowship will benefit students in their school or community.
For more information, visit Letters to Strangers.
