Every family has its ups and downs, but when someone begins to struggle with a mental and behavioral health condition, treating the situation as a family affair doesn’t cut it. Tracking down resources to support a loved one with neurodiverse needs isn’t easy, either, and by the time many parents reach out to Buckelew Programs, they’re in crisis mode, according to Family Service Coordinator Nicole Natividad.

Recently, public school districts across Marin County announced that masks are no longer required in the classroom. As a counselor for Buckelew Programs providing mental health services for youth throughout the county, I applaud any and all efforts to help students navigate toward some form of normalcy during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, but more support is needed to ease this transition from masked to unmasked.

If you ever find yourself hopeless, if you ever feel irreparably despondent, if you ever get to the point where you’re contemplating ending it all, rest assured that counselors affiliated with Buckelew Programs have your back.

The Bike4Buckelew fundraiser event is centered on Buckelew Programs’ work in the community and raising broader awareness about mental health stigma. Buckelew is the largest provider of comprehensive mental health services in the North Bay for those who would otherwise not have access.