From Crisis to Connection: Empowering School Communities Through AI-Powered Mental Health Support

Overview

Mental health challenges among students are rising at an alarming rate, yet many schools remain unequipped to detect early signs or offer timely support. In this thought-provoking session, Jeff Lee, Founder & CEO of Zoala, shares how schools can move from reactive crisis management to a connected, data-informed ecosystem of care—with the help of ethical, AI-powered solutions.

Zoala was built to empower students, educators, and counsellors with real-time, culturally sensitive well-being tools. Since its commercial launch last year, Zoala has already supported over 15,000 users across six countries. In this session, Jeff will introduce how features like mood check-ins, journaling, early-alert systems, and on-demand content are helping school communities identify struggles earlier, foster emotional resilience, and reduce stigma.

Jeff will also address the realities of implementation — how to integrate these tools ethically, protect student privacy, and ensure they enhance rather than replace human relationships. Drawing from real case studies and frontline experiences, he’ll show how AI can elevate counsellor capacity, empower students to take charge of their wellbeing, and equip educators with actionable insights.

Participants will leave with a roadmap to redefine mental health support in their schools—one that’s scalable, inclusive, and deeply human. For Jeff, this isn’t just about tech—it’s about building a world where students don’t just survive school, but grow, connect, and flourish.