AI Mental Health Solution to Support 10,000+ Massachusetts Students

The Boston-based Ruderman Family Foundation and Lenny Learning are responding to the youth mental health crisis head-on through AI-powered solutions, partnering on a new initiative that will provide critical mental health resources to more than 10,000 Massachusetts students.

Supported by a grant from the Foundation, the education technology nonprofit specializing in AI-driven behavioral health solutions for K-12 schools will now significantly expand its presence among middle schools and high schools in Massachusetts.

According to CDC data released this past August, 40% of U.S. teens report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, while the American School Counselor Association reported in February that the national average for student-to-counselor ratios is 385:1.

Against the backdrop of these challenges, Lenny Learning uses technology to empower every school to expand their capacity for behavioral and mental health support. It provides AI-powered tools that help school staff create customized intervention plans, address mental health needs, deliver evidence-based resources, and save valuable time.

“The mental health crisis for students across the educational continuum in Massachusetts and nationwide shows no signs of abating anytime soon. As such, our Foundation is gratified to partner with an innovator like Lenny Learning to leverage the latest cutting-edge AI technology in equipping schools with the crucial tools that they need to support students who are grappling with an array of mental health challenges,” said Sharon Shapiro, Trustee and Community Liaison for the Ruderman Family Foundation.

The Ruderman Family Foundation’s generous support will greatly expand the scope of Lenny Learning’s work in Massachusetts — allowing Lenny Learning to provide its tools and training to 15 additional middle schools and high schools across the state at no cost and benefiting over 10,000 additional students, while ensuring timely and effective care.

“I’ve seen firsthand the immense pressure educators are under to support students’ mental health, often with limited resources,” said Ting Gao, co-founder of Lenny Learning. “This partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation allows us to provide schools with tools that don’t just ease the workload but enable teachers and counselors to focus on what matters most—helping students succeed, both in the classroom and in life. This work is personal to me because I believe every student deserves the chance to thrive, and I know that equipping schools with the right support makes that possible.”