Youth Mental Health Lab
Note: I am currently accepting MPH and PhD students at the Austin location of UTHealth Houston’s School of Public Health. Learn how to apply here.
Our Mission
We live in the most distracting time in history. Amid a thriving attention economy, billion-dollar and trillion-dollar companies compete ruthlessly for our attention with little regard for our well-being.
Not coincidentally, the youth mental health crisis has also been deepening for over 15 years, affecting millions of students’ ability to engage, connect, and thrive in school.
Technology has played a role in the problems we now face, but it can also be a part of the solution. The Youth Mental Health Lab leverages emerging technologies to help adolescents improve their focus and mental health.
Our Approach
Mission-Driven EdTech:
Our process is grounded in lean startup principles, UX research, and rigorous academic methods. We believe that impactful school solutions require continuous input from diverse students and educators.
Artificial Intelligence:
Our roadmap prioritizes the skillful use of AI to create hyper-personalized learning experiences that meet every student exactly where they are.
Implementation Science:
Most good ideas never become proven tools, and most proven tools never scale up. After developing and validating interventions, we study how they can be scaled up effectively and sustainably.
Selected Publications
Richelle, J., Dow, B.R., Pasch, A.M., Schooler, J.W., Mrazek, M.D., Mrazek, A.J. (2024). Digital Attention Training: Improving the Mental Health and Well-Being of Adolescent Youth. Creative Education, 15(10). doi:10.4236/ce.2024.1510132
Mrazek, A. J., Mrazek, M.D., Brown, C.S., Karimi, S.S., Ji, R.R., Ortega, J.R., Maul, A., Carr, P.C., Delegard, A.M., Kirk, A.C., & Schooler, J.W. (2022). Attention Training Improves the Self-Reported Focus and Emotional Regulation of High School Students. Technology, Mind, and Behavior, 3(4). doi:10.1037/tmb0000092
Mrazek, A.J., Mrazek, M.D., Carr, P.C., Delegard, A.M., Ding, M.G., Garcia, D.I., Greenstein, J.E., Kirk, A.C., Kodama, E.E., Krauss, M.J., Landry, A.P., Stokes, C.A., Wickens, K.D., Wong, K., & Schooler, J.W. (2020). The Feasibility of Attention Training for Reducing Mind-wandering and Digital Multitasking in High Schools. Education Sciences. doi:10.3390/educsci10080201
Laukkonen, R., Leggett, J., Gallagher, R., Biddell, H., Mrazek, A.J., Slagter, H. & Mrazek, M. (2019). The science of mindfulness-based interventions and learning: A review for educators. Commissioned by the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD). doi:10.31231/osf.io/6g9uq
Mrazek, A.J., Mrazek, M.D., Reese, J.V, Kirk, A.C., Gougis, L.J., Delegard, A.M., Cynman, D.J., Cherolini, C.M., Carr, P.C., & Schooler, J.W. (2019). Mindfulness-based attention training: Feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a digital course for high school students. Education Sciences, 9(3), 230. doi:10.3390/educsci9030230
Mrazek MD, Franklin MS, Phillips DT, Baird B, Schooler JW. Mindfulness training improves WMC & GRE performance while reducing mind-wandering. Psychol Sci. 2013;24(5):776-781. doi:10.1177/0956797612459659