A mental health initiative backed by pop star Lady Gaga has reached a significant milestone, with more than 100,000 people worldwide completing an online training programme designed to help them recognise when someone is struggling and offer meaningful support. The programme, developed in partnership with Canadian youth mental health organisation Jack dot org, focuses on equipping people with practical skills to support friends, family members and peers before their difficulties escalate into a crisis. According to updates from Born This Way Foundation, Jack dot org and ABC News, the initiative began with the idea that supporting someone’s mental health should not be limited to professional settings. Friends, classmates, parents and colleagues are often among the first to notice changes in someone’s behaviour, but many do not know how to approach the conversation or respond appropriately. The two organisations launched the Be There Certificate in March 2022, building on their earlier collaboration to encourage kindness and peer-to-peer mental health support. The programme is part of a wider effort to make mental health education more accessible, particularly for young people who may turn to someone they trust before seeking professional help.
What is the Be There Certificate?
The Be There Certificate is a free, self-paced online course created by Jack dot org in partnership with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation. It is designed to help participants understand the signs of mental health struggles, learn how to approach someone who may need support and recognise when professional assistance is necessary.The training is built around five guiding principles: recognising signs of distress, showing genuine concern, listening without judgement, understanding the boundaries of one’s role and helping someone connect with appropriate support. Rather than encouraging people to take responsibility for solving another person’s mental health difficulties, the course emphasises the importance of offering compassionate support while recognising personal limitations. According to the programme’s official website, the certificate consists of six interactive lessons and takes less than two hours to complete. It is available in English, French and Spanish, making it accessible to participants across different communities.
More than 100,000 people have completed the training
The milestone was announced in May 2026 by Born This Way Foundation, which celebrated more than 100,000 people worldwide earning their Be There Certificates. The achievement also marked the launch of its Generation Be There campaign, aimed at encouraging more people and organisations to participate in mental health education.The programme’s reported outcomes indicate that participants are not only completing the training but also applying what they have learned. According to Jack dot org’s impact figures, 95% of certificate completers said they felt equipped to safely support someone experiencing mental health difficulties, while 85% reported having used their skills to help someone. These figures highlight the initiative’s emphasis on translating mental health awareness into everyday action, particularly in situations where a person may be hesitant to seek help on their own.
Lady Gaga’s foundation and its focus on young people’s mental health
Born This Way Foundation was co-founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, in 2012. The organisation works to support young people’s mental health and build communities where kindness, emotional well-being and acceptance are encouraged. Over the years, its work has included initiatives addressing bullying, stigma, youth empowerment and access to mental health resources. Its partnership with Jack dot org reflects a broader approach to mental health support, focusing not only on those experiencing difficulties but also on the people around them.Jack dot org, meanwhile, is a Canadian youth mental health organisation that works with young people to strengthen mental health awareness and build supportive communities. Its programmes include Jack Talks, youth-led community chapters and the Be There initiative.The organisations’ latest milestone reflects a growing effort to make mental health support a shared responsibility. By giving people the confidence to recognise early signs of distress, listen and help others find appropriate assistance, the programme aims to make support more accessible long before a situation reaches crisis point.