Be part of our 60 year legacy

We are living through a cycle of uncertainty. Both nationally and here in the East Bay, the collective mental health of our communities are being challenged in ways that many of us have not seen in our lifetimes. And we are a lifeline.

This year, suicide re-entered the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. In this new landscape, the old, carceral systems are failing. The future we all deserve must be centered on community care.

That national crisis is felt acutely here at home. This year, our local 988 lifeline and combined support lines have answered a staggering 53,622 calls—that’s nearly 10,000 more people reaching out for support than the year before. On our text lines, conversations with people at medium-to-high risk for suicide jumped by 60%.

The need is real and it is expanding at a rate that we (and many call centers) are struggling to keep up with. As you can see, your support is more critical than ever. And this is why our 60-year legacy is not just our history, it is our proof.

CSS was born concurrently with the psychiatric survivor and peer support movements, founded on the radical belief that people in distress deserve connection, not criminalization. Since 1966, we have been your lifeline. CSS is, at its heart, a volunteer-run and small donor funded organization. Our work is not just delivered to the people of the East Bay; it is delivered by the people of the East Bay. Collectively, we are the lifeline.

• ORCA (Organizing and Responding to Crisis for Alameda Youth): a sanctuary for LGBTQIA+ youth, who are 5-8 times more likely to attempt suicide. You provide a place of belonging that saves lives.
• Teens for Life: our public school program that creates a new generation of helpers. This year, we reached 10,460 students and their ability to identify warning signs in a friend quadrupled (according to our surveys).

A gift of $100 can help us print and distribute 500 pamphlets about supporting a friend in crisis. A gift of $250 fuels our community-based therapists to meet 10 youth wherever they may be located, removing the transportation access barrier.

Will you please help us meet this urgent challenge?

Since 1966, we have proven community care works. As systemic funding becomes uncertain, your support is the foundation we will stand on. Thank you for being a critical part of this legacy.

Read our 2025 Impact Report

When you donate to Crisis Support Services of Alameda County