Counseling and Support Services for Youth (CASSY)

"Our kids deserve the kind of services and care that lead to good mental health."

Emily, a high school student, referred herself to CASSY because she felt anxious and had thoughts of suicide. CASSY therapist, Dawn, met weekly with Emily and soon discovered she had an eating disorder and had been sexually assaulted by a friend, all while her parents went through a separation. Through their weekly sessions together, Emily soon regained control of her life and recovered in time to make up her missing credits and graduate with her peers.

Emily is one of the staggering 1.8 million children in California, twenty percent of our youth, who experience mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, academic stress, low self-esteem, and substance abuse. 

Only one-third of youth receive help.

Providing mental health services at school increases kids’ access to care and improves school performance. One study found that after a school-based health center began providing mental health services, there was a 13 percent increase in the number of kids advancing to the next grade. The best way to reach kids in need is to partner with schools to provide high-quality, mental health services right on campus.

We create safe school environments through on-site counseling in eight communities around the Bay Area. Our ongoing counseling sessions, crisis intervention, and proactive education for staff and families address substane use and violence prevention and increase school and community mental health prevention and treatment services.

We need your help.

Emily is one of the 33,000 students under our mental health safety-net. Please support CASSY today as we work in partnership with our schools, communities, and supporters like you to ensure students like Emily have access to mental health support when they need it. You are our best partner in ensuring our children have access to the mental health support and services they need to cope and be successful in school and life!