In crisis? 988 ·Get help now

Important note: MELLO is an AI-powered wellness technology platform. Articles, resources, and conversations with Mel are AI-generated and human-reviewed. They do not replace licensed medical, therapeutic, or legal advice. If you are in crisis, call 988 or 911.

Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 11, 2026

AI Data Processing and Mel Conversations

Conversations with Mel are processed through a third-party AI service. Key protections and disclosures:

  • Conversations are processed in real time to generate AI responses — they are not permanently stored with personal identifiers
  • We do not use your conversation data to train third-party AI models
  • Mel cannot access your medical records, financial accounts, or external personal data
  • Crisis language is detected algorithmically and you are immediately directed to professional resources (988, Crisis Text Line)
  • MELLO does not independently contact emergency services based on AI conversation content
  • We do not record, transcribe, or retain voice call audio from Mel interactions

By using Mel, you acknowledge that you are interacting with an AI system, not a human, and that the responses are generated algorithmically and may not always be accurate or appropriate for your specific situation.

AI-Generated Content on the Platform

Articles, resource descriptions, wellness guides, and other written content on MELLO may be generated or assisted by artificial intelligence. All AI-generated content is reviewed by human editors before publication. However, we cannot guarantee that every piece of content is fully accurate, complete, or up-to-date at the time you read it. You should verify any health, financial, legal, or wellness information with a qualified professional before acting on it.

What MELLO Is and Is Not

MELLO is a wellness information platform — not a licensed mental health, medical, or therapy service. We provide culturally affirming resources, community information, and AI-powered guidance through Mel, our wellness adviser. Nothing on this site constitutes professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are in crisis, please call 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.

What We Collect

We collect only the information needed to provide our services:

  • Email addresses — When you subscribe to The MELLO Brief newsletter or submit a mentorship interest form. Your email is used solely for the purpose you provided it.
  • Form submissions — Mentorship interest forms collect name, email, age, life stage, role preference, and optional interests. This information is used to match you with mentorship opportunities.
  • Conversations with Mel — Chat messages with our AI wellness adviser are processed in real time to generate responses. Mel does not store personal identifiers or link conversations to your identity.
  • Anonymous analytics — We may collect anonymized usage data (page views, feature usage) to improve the platform. No personally identifying information is included.

What We Do Not Collect

We do not collect medical records, health diagnoses, insurance information, Social Security numbers, financial account details, or biometric data. Mel does not require you to create an account or log in. We do not track your browsing activity across other websites.

How We Use Your Information

  • Send you The MELLO Brief newsletter if you subscribed
  • Respond to mentorship interest submissions
  • Generate real-time AI responses through Mel
  • Improve platform features based on anonymized usage patterns
  • Comply with legal obligations if required

Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information only in these limited situations:

  • Service providers — We use Supabase for database hosting and edge function processing. These providers have access only to the data necessary to perform their services and are bound by confidentiality obligations.
  • Legal compliance — We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.
  • Crisis situations — If Mel detects language indicating imminent danger to yourself or others, you will be directed to crisis resources (988, Crisis Text Line). MELLO does not independently contact emergency services.

AI Conversations and Mel

Conversations with Mel are processed through a third-party AI service. Key protections:

  • Conversations are not stored with personal identifiers
  • Mel cannot access your medical records, accounts, or external data
  • Mel never diagnoses conditions or prescribes treatment
  • Crisis language is detected and redirected to professional resources immediately

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you
  • Request correction of inaccurate information
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Unsubscribe from newsletters at any time
  • Opt out of anonymized analytics

To exercise any of these rights, email us at privacy@mellow.org.

Data Retention

Newsletter subscriptions and form submissions are retained as long as you remain subscribed or until you request deletion. AI conversation data is not retained long-term and is processed in real time only. Anonymized analytics may be retained indefinitely as they contain no personal information.

Children and Minors

MELLO provides resources for boys and young men ages 10 and up, but we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13 without verifiable parental consent. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately at privacy@mellow.org.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as our services evolve. If we make material changes, we will notify subscribers via email and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of MELLO after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

Questions about this Privacy Policy? Reach us at privacy@mellow.org.

M

Ask Mel...