Today, the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, in partnership with Born This Way Foundation, launched the Emotion Revolution initiative to build awareness of the critical role emotions play in young people’s learning, decision-making, and overall wellness.

The initiative will begin with an unprecedented online survey of high-school age youth nation-wide, exploring how young people feel, how they want to feel, and how to bridge the gap between the two. This data will strengthen the scientific understanding of how to most effectively build positive school climates and empower young people with the emotional tools they need to lead happy, healthy, and productive lives. The survey is available at EmotionRevolution.org beginning today, April 9, 2015.

Results from the survey will be presented at the Emotion Revolution Summit in October. Hosted at Yale University, the Summit will feature youth participants from around the country as well as special guests, including Yale President Peter Salovey, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence Director Marc Brackett, and Born This Way Foundation Co-Founders Cynthia Germanotta and Lady Gaga.

The summit will serve as a platform to unveil the findings of the study as well as offer youth the opportunity to share their ideas for creating improved learning environments with key educators, academics, and policy makers. A major goal of the summit is to create momentum around the national social and emotional learning (SEL) movement and to provide youth and educators with the resources they need to accelerate positive changes in their schools and communities.

The need for an Emotion Revolution has never been greater. Far too many young people today are feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and bored. According to the American Psychological Association, for the first time high school-age youth are feeling more stressed than adults. Left unchecked, such emotions can impair mental and physical health, interfere with learning, and hinder prospects for future success. The Emotion Revolution is dedicated to helping to reverse these trends.

“Born This Way Foundation is excited to partner with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence on this important initiative,” said Cynthia Germonatta, Co-Founder and President of Born This Way Foundation. “Our organizations are dedicated to empowering young people in order to make the world a kinder and braver place. This survey is a fundamental step towards accomplishing that goal.”

“Emotions drive learning, decision making, relationships, and health. Research has shown us repeatedly that the skills of emotional intelligence profoundly impact a person’s ability to thrive – academically, personally, and professionally,” said Marc Brackett, Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. “The Emotion Revolution survey will allow us to take the emotional temperature of young people around the country, improving our understanding of how to best equip them with the tools they need to succeed in every facet of life.”