What is the name of your organization?
TeenSmart International
What is the name of your solution?
Building Emotions
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Social emotional well being online courses for Spanish Speaking adolescents with great results in mental health problems prevention.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Latin America
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Costa Rica
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
According to the UNICEF report “No Time to Lose: Health Challenges for Adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean” (2022)
1. Mental Health is a Silent Crisis
• Over 16 million adolescents (ages 10–19) in Latin America and the Caribbean live with a mental disorder.
• Depression and anxiety are the most common, often undiagnosed and untreated.
• Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents in the region.
2. Health Systems Are Not Adolescent-Responsive
• Many countries lack adolescent-focused policies, services, and trained providers.
• Health systems usually ignores the unique needs of teenagers.
3. Health Inequities Persist
• Access to quality healthcare varies by income, gender, ethnicity, disability, and geography.
• Indigenous, Afro-descendant, LGBTQ+, and migrant adolescents face additional barriers.
4. Digital Engagement and Education Are Key
• Adolescents are active online, making digital tools critical for health education and outreach.
• However, digital divides mean rural and marginalized youth may be left behind.
5. Investment and Action Are Urgently Needed
• The region must prioritize adolescent health in public policy.
Adding to this global concern, recent news have highlighted heightened anxiety among Latino adolescents in the United States due to new policies that contributes to a sense of fear and insecurity.
What is your solution?
"Building Emotions" consists of a gamified learning experience for 3 age groups (10-13, 14-17, 18-24), through 2 online micro courses. Co-created with teens and deployed on the TeenSmart's award-winning JovenSalud platform and mobile App which has served 167,000+ Latin American teens, our solution focuses entirely on mental health support for Spanish-speaking teens, specially the most vulnerable who otherwise wouldn't have access to this health support.
JovenSalud.net was awarded as a social health innovation by PAHO-WHO in 2023 because it is helping closing health equity gaps among Latin American and the Caribbean adolescents.
“Building Emotions” approach is disruptive, it focused in early prevention, health promotion, support, and training in healthy habits. And it is also much deeper and of proven impact when it comes to other technological innovations in health promotion.
The impact has been huge!
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
95% are Central American teens, nearly 70% come from rural areas, and almost 60% are female.
A first version was developed during the COVID-19. It responded to a deep need and unmet demand of Latin American youth: to obtain support during isolation to improve their wellbeing and strengthen their mental health. While proven-effective, TeenSmart team was convinced that this intervention could be significantly improved by working collaboratively with more teens to engage youth community with an even more culturally responsive solution that will be key to scale it. So, it was re-designed and relaunched as two micro courses in 2024.
Post test of these courses revealed:
• 29% reduction in cases of deep sadness among youth.
• 18% show a more positive attitude toward undesired outcomes.
• 24% reduction in cases of intentional self-harm.
• Improved life skills and self-esteem (+20% feel more in control of their lives, and +13% can identify positive traits about themselves).
• Changes in beliefs about mental health (+14% now view professional psychological or psychiatric support as normal).
• Strengthened support networks (+16% report better communication with their families).
• Healthier life habits (up to 13% increased frequency of physical activity or balanced
eating).
• Shift in beliefs regarding sexual health and relationships
