Clayful CEO Joins the Mental Health Goes to School Podcast: A Conversation With Educators in the Trenches

‍Tackling the Youth Mental Health Crisis Together

At Clayful, we believe that addressing the youth mental health crisis requires collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to meeting students where they are. Recently, our CEO and founder, Maria Barrera, was invited to join the Mental Health Goes to School podcast—a platform dedicated to bridging the gap between education and mental health.

Hosted by seasoned special educator Jo-Ann Berry and child psychiatrist Dr. Candida Fink, this podcast is known for insightful conversations with educators, mental health professionals, and parents. Together, they explore practical solutions to the challenges faced by students today.

Maria’s episode dives into Clayful’s origin story, its groundbreaking approach to mental health support, and how the platform is making a tangible impact in schools across the country. If you’re an educator, school leader, parent, or mental health advocate, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories.

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Key Highlights From the Conversation

1. From Inspiration to Action: How Clayful Was Born

Maria shared the pivotal moment that inspired her to launch Clayful. A stark realization of the youth mental health crisis pushed her to leave a promising career in engineering and education technology to focus on building a solution for students.

“I read an article about 8-year-olds dying of suicide, and I emailed my boss right away: ‘I need to work on this.’ If we’ve gotten to the point where 8-year-olds know what suicide is, there’s something fundamentally wrong with our systems.”

2. On-Demand Support: Meeting Students Where They Are

Clayful’s unique, chat-based platform eliminates traditional barriers to mental health support by allowing students to connect with trained coaches in real time. This innovative approach ensures that students receive help in the critical moments they need it most.

“The time between when a student feels an emotion and when they get support—that’s when bad decisions happen. Clayful’s on-demand support addresses that moment, preventing everything from a regretted comment to serious self-harm.”

3. Strengthening Foundations: Addressing Tier 1 Challenges

Clayful doesn’t just step in during crises; it builds preventative frameworks that reduce the need for escalated interventions. By integrating with schools’ existing systems, Clayful supports educators, relieves overburdened counselors, and helps address the root causes of mental health challenges.

“If you have a Tier 2 and Tier 3 problem, it’s probably because you have a Tier 1 problem. Strengthening that foundation helps bring students back before they escalate—and Clayful is designed to do just that.”

4. Diversity and Representation in Coaching

Maria emphasized the importance of building a coaching team that reflects the diversity of the students Clayful serves. This intentional approach ensures that students feel understood and supported, regardless of their background.‍

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“When students feel validated, it’s life-changing. We’ve built a coaching team that mirrors the diversity of our students, so every young person can connect with someone who truly gets it.”

5. Measurable Impact: Real Results in Schools

The conversation highlighted Clayful’s proven outcomes, including increased attendance, reduced chronic absenteeism, and decreases in anxiety symptoms among students. These metrics are a testament to the platform’s ability to create meaningful change. Learn more about those here.

“We’ve seen decreases in chronic absenteeism and anxiety symptoms, and increases in attendance—all because students have someone to talk to through Clayful.”

Why You Should Listen to This Episode

This episode of Mental Health Goes to School is a deep dive into the challenges of student mental health and the innovative solutions Clayful is delivering. It’s a must-listen for anyone who believes in the power of education to transform lives.

🎧 Listen now to hear the full conversation and learn how Clayful is making a difference: Mental Health Goes to School: Episode 15.

Let’s Build a Better Future Together

Maria’s conversation with Jo-Ann and Dr. Fink highlights how Clayful is bridging the gap between education and mental health. By leveraging technology, fostering inclusivity, and strengthening preventative mental health care, we’re committed to creating systemic change for students everywhere.

Whether you’re a school leader, educator, or parent, this podcast episode will leave you inspired and empowered to make a difference.

Listen now and share the episode with your network. Together, we can ensure every student has access to the support they deserve.

👉 Listen to the episode here

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