Chads Coalition for Mental Health

CHADS (Communities Healing Adolescent Depression and Suicide) was founded after Marian and Larry McCord's 18-year-old son, Chad, died by suicide in 2004.

In April of 2004, Chad McCord, a high-school senior with a bright future, lost his battle with depression and died by suicide. Like so many parents before them, Marian and Larry had fought alongside Chad trying to help him conquer his disease, but found a healthcare system unequipped and often unwilling or unable to help. They were determined to create an organization focused on saving the lives of our youth by increasing awareness, education and research to address adolescent depression and suicide.

Today, CHADS offers school outreach programs, community awareness presentations and classes as well as family support programs to advance the awareness and prevention of depression and suicide. We are one of the largest agencies in the region focused on suicide prevention, reaching more than 31,000 students during the 2017-2018 school year.