We exist to remove the barriers to mental health care for high school and college age students.
The need for mental health support among the younger generations is nothing new, yet in our post-pandemic reality it seems to be more prevalent than ever. It appears like there is a catalyst event at least once a month that has people begging “we need to do something about this mental health crisis”. That is a very overwhelming task that will take the commitment and education of many people over time. But here, today, we are committed to starting somewhere. Starting with students who need healthy foundations to thrive.
About Us
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We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating in Washington State. To start out, our services are targeted toward the major university towns in our state as well as all of the high schools! Right now we offer financial support for mental health costs, online resources and educational speaking engagements. Our initial offerings and resources are just the start. Click “Where We Are Going” to see our future plans! The more support we receive, the more we can provide!
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We have big dreams of supporting communities of students across the country. We will adjust our offerings based on feedback, the needs of students, and more. Some specific projects we are working on are college town resource guides, partnerships with local physicians and counselors, targeted playlists and video content. You are joining at the beginning of it all, and we are so grateful!
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To learn more about joining our mission and helping us expand our reach and resources, click the ‘Become A Partner’ button at the top of this page!
Our History and Our Future
Hi! We are Taylor and Savannah, the founders of Held Hope! We are so excited to share a little of our story with you about why Held Hope got started.
In 2018 we were living in the Palouse, finishing our undergraduate degrees, leading high school community programs and considering our career transitions into the real world after college. In the summer of that year we were both in the midst of our own mental health struggles, when the designer Kate Spade took her life. We both connected to the fact that someone could have such a successful career with a personal brand built on positive mantras and bright and bold lifestyle wear, but be silently struggling behind closed doors, consumed by a silent and dark illness. It was a wake up call for us to not only get the support we needed, but also to be more vulnerable about our struggles and not hide behind a veil of perceived perfection, success and happiness. Ultimately, it also changed the trajectory of our professional lives, when we discovered that there were so many barriers to mental health support for young people. We saw a need and decided to commit the next few years to figuring out how to meet the needs of those around us.
Savannah went on to pursue her Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling while Taylor began gathering career experience as an author, speaker and entrepreneur. Shortly into this, the pandemic happened and put Held Hope on pause. Now, a few years later, we are launching services with expectant hearts.
We continually ask ourselves and those around us, “what do you wish you had known or had access to regarding mental health in high school and college”? These answers are what help guide our programs and services. We were those high school and college age students in need of help and resources. As we continue to do life with students in that particular age range, we see that the need is ever present and are ready to serve them well.
Get Involved
A successful non-profit takes commitment from the communities that it is involved in. Since we are brand new we are looking to get connected with any person or business that is interested in partnership to help this mission flourish! From volunteers to guest blog writers and corporate sponsors we want to work with you all!
Get Support
From financial assistance, to understanding your insurance benefits, expert blog posts, and emergency resources we have help ready for you today. If there is a resource you need, that we do not have on the site yet, please do not hesitate to email us directly for support!
