Youth health education nonprofit organization Peer Health Exchange (PHE) ended the year by celebrating the milestone of achieving one million active users on its digital platform selfsea.
Crossing the one million user-mark launches a new era of the platform-- selfsea 2.0. selfsea is poised to become the nation’s leading digital platform for youth-driven mental and sexual health support. In this next iteration of selfsea, we are leveling up how care is accessed, how trust is built, and how healing begins—through the expansion of:
- Personalized, gamified learning experiences that engage and educate youth in the language of their generation
- Micro-communities rooted in shared identity and lived experience, offering authentic peer-to-peer support
- Resources for parents and caregivers, closing generational gaps and building stronger lines of communication at home
- Real-time, anonymous insights that empower healthcare systems, schools, and community leaders to act with greater speed, precision, and empathy
selfsea is built on Peer Health Exchange’s 20+ years of expertise in effective health facilitation methods, leading alongside youth in classrooms and communities nationwide. "For over two decades, PHE’s secret sauce has been the trusted exchange between peers on health education topics. This is why selfsea is so valuable to 13–18-year-olds. The platform is codesigned with youth to ensure impact, and that impact is demonstrated by its one million users today," said Gary Syman, Peer Health Exchange National Board Member.
The TikTok Connection
With 58% of teens using the platform daily, TikTok is a perfect vehicle to reach youth with health information. Peer Health Exchange is also a proud member of TikTok’s Mental Health Awareness Hub, which features content on topics of well-being, and allows users to connect with advocates and organizations that provide important resources. Since joining TikTok, PHE has accumulated a robust total of over 20 million video views and over 52,000 followers on the Peer Health Exchange channel, committed to accurate, safe, educational youth facing health content.
We’re also proud to be among five US-based recipients of TikTok’s Mental Health Education Fund Grant for organizations working on supporting mental well-being. The ad credits on TikTok have helped PHE add over 281,000 selfsea users. “The results have been great. It shows that young people are quite interested in selfsea, especially in states that might not prioritize mental health tools. For example, Texas had a high click through rate of around 5%, with Dallas and Houston at the top of the list of cities. Over 108,000 of the new users have come from Texas,” said Growth Marketing Consultant, Aaron Geisert.
What’s Next for Selfsea
Peer Health Exchange’s vision is to redefine prevention, equity, and access in mental health—not with top-down solutions, but through a platform co-created by the very people they aim to serve. We exist to empower young people with the tools, voices, and communities they need to thrive. By meeting youth where they are—online, mobile-first, and socially connected—the organization aims to close the gap between the support young people need and the support they receive. This future is bold—and it’s only possible with bold partners. Peer Health Exchange seeks to partner with mission-aligned corporate and healthcare organizations to stand beside us in building Selfsea 2.0, and reach the next million young people. Together, we will intervene earlier and more equitably, deliver measurable impact at scale, create meaningful brand alignment with youth well-being, empowerment, and more.
Our Commitment
Peer Health Exchange is a trusted ally youth turn to, and the responsive partner health systems need. We make wellness feel personal, relevant, and real. Because when young people are supported, confident, and connected, they don’t just survive—they lead. And the world becomes better for all of us.