Morgan Stanley is intensifying its efforts to address children's mental health issues with a recent announcement of $15 million in new multi-year grants for its Alliance for Children's Mental Health members. This initiative forms part of the company's $50 million pledge to enhance mental health solutions for youth. Since its inception in 2020, the Alliance has reached over 52 million children, caregivers, and educators globally.
Ted Pick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley, emphasized the company's dedication to children's health, stating, "Morgan Stanley is proud of the Alliance’s work to address the mental wellbeing of young people as part of our longstanding commitment to children’s health." He added, "Together with our members, the Alliance has supported the mental health needs of millions of children, and we look forward to having continued impact in the years to come."
The new grants aim to widen the scope and impact of several Alliance member organizations:
- The Child Mind Institute plans to enhance training for educators and clinicians in the U.S. for better student mental health support.
- The Columbia University Department of Psychiatry will research smartphone interventions for better adolescent mental health outcomes and expand community care in New York City.
- The Jed Foundation (JED) will work with school districts and high schools in the U.S. to improve student mental health support systems.
- The Steve Fund will provide U.S. college students and associated groups with resources to promote mental health, academic persistence, and career success.
- Place2Be will improve mental health support and services in London, U.K., focusing on children and young people's wellbeing.
- Mind HK will raise mental health awareness and offer young people training and support for anxiety and depression in Hong Kong.
Additional Alliance members include the American Academy of Pediatrics and Sesame Workshop, which joined in 2024 to expand the initiative's reach.
Joan Steinberg, President of the Morgan Stanley Foundation, highlighted the necessity for ongoing attention and funding in this area, saying, "The Alliance has made much-needed strides to foster awareness, collaboration and innovation to ensure that children have the mental health support they need to grow and thrive. Our work is far from over as there remains an urgent need for greater attention and funding for children’s mental health."
The Alliance’s Innovation Awards, launched in 2021, have supported U.S. nonprofits in scaling innovative mental health care solutions. In 2024, the organization introduced the Leadership Learning Series to aid early-stage organizations in expanding their programming.
For more details on the Alliance and its programs, please visit their website.
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