CHADS Coalition for Mental Health

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! ✨

As we head into a new year, we just want to say thank you. Thank you for being here, for supporting this work, and for showing up countless ways.

A new year always brings hope and fresh starts and we’re grateful to walk into it with this community.

12/31/2025

A year like 2024—serving 700,000 people and achieving record-breaking fundraising—only motivates us to aim higher. Our success is our starting line for 2026. 💚

We need your continued partnership to meet our ambitious First Quarter Goals:

Total Q1 Fundraising Goal: $325,000
Second Annual Day of Giving Goal: $75,000

This funding allows us to expand crucial programs like Hope Squad, Signs of Su***de, Family Support, and Social Emotional Wellbeing across the St. Louis region. Every early-year gift is an investment in prevention, support, and a brighter future for a young person. Help us kick off 2026 strong!

Donate now: 🔗www.chadscoalition.org/donate

12/31/2025

As we close out the year, we want to share something deeply personal and incredibly powerful.

In this video, Melissa Brickey, CHADS’ Chief Development Officer, shares her own story at She Said St. Louis: her experience with suicidal ideation, her journey toward healing, and her belief in hope. Her courage, kindness, and authenticity are a breath of fresh air, and her vulnerability invites others to feel less alone. 💚

Melissa doesn’t just lead this work; she lives it. And because of her openness and heart, our organization is stronger, more compassionate, and more connected.

🎥 Watch Melissa’s story: https://youtu.be/Fzyor7Mw0fU

recorded live November 15, 2025 at The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries, St. Louis, MOfrom the playbill:Melissa has dedicated her career to advocating ...

12/29/2025

If you've been meaning to give before year's end, this is your sign. 💚

The numbers you see here represent thousands of young people who felt supported, asked for help, and found hope this year.

Every year-end gift, no matter the size, helps ensure more youth feel seen and never alone.

If giving has been on your heart, now is the moment.
🔗https://www.chadscoalition.org/donate

12/25/2025

Warmest Holiday Wishes from CHADS

During this special time of year, we hope you find moments of quiet reflection, deep gratitude, and gentle joy. The holidays can bring a complicated mix of emotions, and we want to remind you that your well-being matters most.

Remember, if you or someone you care about needs immediate support, please reach out. Resources are available 24/7. Call or Text 988.

Happy Holidays from the bottom of our hearts! We're here for you.

Visit: https://www.chadscoalition.org/resources

12/25/2025

Remember, you are so wanted, needed, and never alone. 💚

If you are struggling right now and need someone to talk to, text or call 988. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

📷Credit: 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline

12/24/2025

Ugly Christmas sweaters, festive fits, and even one with blinking lights 🤣, we closed out the year celebrating our and some of the people who make our mission possible.

Ending the year and proud of this team. 💚

12/23/2025

"Peer-to-peer intervention is powerful. It makes you feel heard, safe, and seen in a way that others might not understand. This is why I'm such an advocate for Hope Squad. Through their programming, Hope Squad empowers youth to build connections with peers and be that bridge to adult support. It can be so hard to ask for help from an adult sometimes, but it can be so much easier with a friend. Seeing young people feel like they have the knowledge and capability to help themselves and their peers gives me so much joy. They are doing incredible work to stop the stigma surrounding mental health.”

-Alyssa Wilkinson, CHADS Hope Squad Coordinator

You can also make a difference in lives like Sofia. Please visit https://www.chadscoalition.org/donate to donate today.

12/22/2025

Today marks the first day of winter and the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. ❄ However, it's important to remember that this time of year can also bring challenges, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. SAD is a type of depression that occurs during the winter months when there is less natural sunlight and can affect our mood, energy levels, and overall well-being.

Remember, hope and help are available if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Reach out to loved ones, seek support, and prioritize your mental health.

For more information visit: 🔗 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder

12/20/2025

Changing school culture from the inside out: That’s the power of Hope Squad at CHADS Coalition for Mental Health. At Jefferson Intermediate School, 26 student leaders were nominated by their peers to be sources of kindness and connection. Their peer-to-peer approach has dramatically reduced stigma and increased help-seeking. 💚

Our 2026 goal: Bring this transformative program to more schools.

Learn more at https://www.chadscoalition.org/

12/19/2025

A HUGE thank you to our community for a record-breaking year! Your generosity fueled counseling services, educational programs for young adults, parents and educators, and equipped schools with resources to provide a proactive approach to mental health. According to the 2024 Missouri Student Survey, 8.0% of metro-area students seriously considered su***de, 7.37% made a plan, and 3.44% attempted—an estimated 17 attempts every day.

We are lowering those stats and raising the bar on prevention:

◾ Most Successful Gala Ever (over $425K!)—shout out to emcee Frank Cusumano!
◾First Day of Giving raised over $75K!
◾ 14th annual Trivia Night with 500+ attendees!

This funding is not just a number—it’s a lifeline. Your contribution ensures we can staff and sustain programs in 382 schools throughout the St. Louis area, touching thousands of young lives with essential support. We couldn't do it without you!

Visit: www.chadscoalition.org/getinvolved

12/18/2025

In a world that often feels complex, volatile, and full of uncertainty, one thing remains absolutely steady: Our unwavering commitment to the mental well-being of our kids.

We are overjoyed to announce that, this year, CHADS reached an incredible, life-changing milestone: 700,000 individuals served in 20 years through our life-saving prevention and counseling programs!
That number represents 700,000 lives touched by hope, 700,000 families gaining crucial support, and 700,000 reasons to keep fighting stigma. Because of your generous support, we can keep showing up, scaling our programs, and ensuring that no child has to face a mental health crisis alone.

Thank you for making every single one of those lives possible.

Learn more at https://www.chadscoalition.org/