The Mental Health Outreach Efforts of Elggo with a Focus on Schoolchildren

The Complexities of Promoting Mental Health Awareness and Education in Schools

Elggo, a Dubai-based start-up co-founded by Luma Makari and Mirna Mneimneh, has taken on the challenging task of promoting mental health awareness and education in schools, where the need for such resources is paramount. This undertaking involves addressing the complex issues associated with schoolchildren’s mental health, including the impact of Covid-19 and other traumatic events, social isolation, and the lack of access to mental health care. To tackle these issues, Elggo offers a program for classrooms in grades K-12, which aims to equip pupils with the skills and tools they need to improve their mental health and wellbeing in their daily lives.

Exploring the Need for Mental Health Awareness and Education in Schools

Luma Makari’s experiences working with migrant communities in Lebanon revealed the significant gaps in mental health care for young people in schools. These gaps were further compounded by the Beirut port blast and the Covid-19 pandemic, which left children and youth vulnerable to mental health challenges. Elggo collaborated with regional psychologists, researchers, clinicians, and educators to create a mental health program for classrooms that provides support to teachers, parents, and children to cope with the impact of two years of Covid-related social isolation and trauma following the blast that left more than 200 people dead.

The Elggo Program: A Comprehensive Approach to Promoting Mental Health

Elggo’s mental health program is a comprehensive approach that addresses the complex mental health challenges that schoolchildren face. The program is integrated into the curriculum, with one-hour lessons per month that are guided by trained teachers who use videos and games to teach pupils skills and tools they can integrate into their daily life to improve their mental health and wellbeing. The program draws on principles from mindfulness, positive psychology, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and evidence-based social and emotional learning. Additionally, the program is culturally compatible for the region, offering the program in Arabic and English.

Elggo’s Business Model: A Sustainable and Scalable Approach to Mental Health Education

Elggo’s innovative business model offers certified professional development courses for schoolteachers that cover classroom-based social and emotional learning tools for increasing the well-being of pupils. The cost of the program ranges from $20 to $25 per pupil, which is roughly equal to the price of one textbook and is included in the school fees. This approach is sustainable and scalable, providing a viable and cost-effective solution for schools to promote mental health education and awareness.

Expansion Plans and Future Products: Addressing Emerging Challenges

Elggo has ambitious plans for expansion in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, aiming to partner with school chains, continue working with independent schools, and explore new markets. The company is also developing a new artificial intelligence-enabled product that will customize each child’s experience on the digital platform, depending on his or her specific challenges. The new product, due to be released in August, will feature surveys and questionnaires to gauge each student’s mental health challenges. Elggo expects to earn $600,000 in annual revenue for the 2023 fiscal year following its release.

In Conclusion: A Bright Future for Mental Health Education and Awareness

Elggo’s mental health program for schoolchildren is an innovative and comprehensive approach that is making a positive impact in the region. By focusing on mental health awareness, prevention, and intervention, the company is providing pupils with the skills and tools they need to improve their mental health and wellbeing in their daily lives. Furthermore, the company’s expansion plans and the development of new products demonstrate Elggo’s commitment to addressing emerging challenges in the field of mental health education and awareness. With a sustainable and scalable business model, Elggo is poised to create a lasting impact in the mental health space across MENA. As more schools adopt Elggo’s mental health program, it is hoped that the next generation of students will be better equipped to handle the complex mental health challenges of the modern world.