Jewel’s Fifth Annual #Notalonechallenge Kicks Off For World Mental Health Day

Olivia O'Brien, Lexi Hensler & More Join The Campaign To Remove Stigma Around Mental Health And Expand Access To Support Not Alone Awards & Summit Return To The Wynn Las Vegas November 2-4

OCTOBER 13, 2026 :Jewel's fifth annual#NotAloneChallenge kicked off over the weekend in recognition of World Mental Health Day, once again bringing together voices across entertainment, sports, culture and beyond to remind people everywhere that they are not alone and connect them with accessible mental health tools and resources.

This year, Olivia O'Brien and Lexi Hensler are among those joining Jewel and her Inspiring Children Foundation (ICF) in the campaign, using their platforms to help break down stigma around mental health and encourage open conversations about emotional well-being.

Now in its fifth year, the #NotAloneChallenge has grown into a global mental health movement, raising more than $3 million for ICF and drawing support over the years fromBillie Eilish, Lionel Richie, David Foster, Josh Groban, Kelly Clarkson, Jake Shane, Paris Hilton and many more. You can watch a recap HERE .

To celebrate the fifth year of the #NotAloneChallenge, ICF has teamed up with Hugz on a special limited-edition Purple Turtle, created as a tangible reminder that no one should have to navigate difficult moments alone. Featuring Hugz's signature weighted feel and the ability to be warmed or cooled for added comfort, the Purple Turtle is available now for $59.99 at givehugz.co , with a portion of proceeds benefiting ICF.

Speaking with PEOPLE Magazineabout this year's #NotAloneChallenge, Jewel emphasized the importance of making mental health support accessible to everyone. "I hope people know they have an ally. I hope they know to reach out to their community or to one of our resources," she shared. Read the full interview HERE .

Jewel's commitment to mental health is deeply personal. After experiencing homelessness as a teenager and struggling to access the support she needed, she began developing her own mental health tools and practices. In partnership with ICF, Jewel has spent more than 27 years working to make mental health programs and resources available to others, particularly underserved youth. The #NotAloneChallenge grew out of that work, harnessing the power of social media and community to help people feel less alone while connecting them with practical tools to support their mental and emotional well-being.

The campaign leads into the second annual Not Alone Summit &Award Show, powered by the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, returning to Wynn Las Vegas November 2-4. Born out of the success of the #NotAloneChallenge, the three-day gathering will bring together leaders across entertainment, business, science, philanthropy and wellness to advance the global conversation around mental health and turn conversation into action. This year, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) joins as a founding partner.

The week begins November 2 with the Not Alone Award Show, hosted by Emmy Award-winning comedian Loni Love and livestreamed viaiHeartRadio's official YouTube channel. This year's honorees, presenters and performers includeMike Posner, Anthony Ramos, Ray Lewis, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr., Mike Majlak, Lexi Hensler and Caroline Jones, with Mike Tyson, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Kevin Hines, David Eagleman and more returning this year.

On November 3-4, Jewel will join Summit co-chairs Steve Wozniak and ICF alumCherrial Odell, along with hostJason Kennedy, for two days of conversations, programming and experiences centered around mental health, connection and actionable solutions.

For tickets and more information on the Not Alone Awards and Summit, please visit notaloneawards.com .

About Jewel:

Jewel went from a girl who grew up with no running water on an Alaskan homestead, to a homeless teenager in San Diego, to an award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist who released one of the best-selling debuts of all time. Throughout her career, Jewel has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and has earned 26 nominations for such awards as the GRAMMYs, American Music Awards, MTV Awards, VH1 Awards, Billboard Music Awards and Country Music Awards, winning eight times. Jewel has been featured on the cover of TIME Magazine and Rolling Stone, and she has performed on Saturday Night Live, at the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals, for the Pope and the President of the United States. Her music has spanned a wide range of genres with top hits in folk, pop, club, country, standards, children's and holiday music.

About Inspiring Children Foundation:

For over 25 years, Jewel's Inspiring Children Foundation (ICF) has been transforming the lives of at-risk youth struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and other mental health challenges by providing a whole-human approach to physical, social, emotional and mental health. ICF serves 2,500 youth in person and millions online. 95% of students in its Leadership Program have earned college scholarships for academics and athletics to some of the best colleges in the U.S. 100% of its last graduating class self-reported a full remission in their depression and suicidal ideation symptoms. Parts of the program are now being duplicated in 22 cities by other nonprofits. For more information, please visit www.inspiringchildren.org .

For more information, please contact [email protected] .