In rural and underserved communities across South Georgia, many students are silently struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral challenges without access to the mental health support they truly need. As a school-based therapist and founder of Anchored Counseling and Support Services, I see this every single day.

Hello, my name is Kierra Bryant. I am a Master’s-level social worker with over 12 years of experience serving individuals and families in need. Through my program, Anchored Minds, I provide free, school-based mental and behavioral health services to middle school, high school, and alternative school students, many of whom would otherwise go without care.

Currently, I serve approximately 35 students each week, providing individual counseling focused on emotional regulation and coping skills, group counseling on topics such as anxiety, peer pressure, and decision-making, crisis intervention and safety planning, trauma-informed and CBT-based psychoeducation, and collaboration with school staff to support both behavioral and academic success. For many of these students, this is their only access to mental health care.

As summer break approaches, a critical and often overlooked gap in care begins. When school ends, so do the services. For nearly three months, many students will go without counseling, structure, or emotional support. The reality is that 60% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment, 54% of youth ages 12–17 struggle to access needed care, and only 20% of adolescents receive therapy, leaving many without support. Additionally, nearly 40% of high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Even during the school year, access is limited, but school-based services act as a critical safety net. When summer begins, that safety net disappears.

Mental health care is not something that can be paused without consequence. Without continuity, progress made during the school year can be lost, emotional and behavioral challenges can escalate, students are left without coping tools during unstructured time, and crisis risks may increase without support. For many students, school is the only place they feel supported, seen, and safe.

With consistent, year-round support, students are learning how to regulate their emotions, reducing harmful behaviors, improving relationships, staying engaged academically, and building confidence and resilience. This is not just counseling; this is life-changing support.

I would love to continue to provide services for my students this summer but I need your help. School ends on May 22, 2026!!

Your donation will help provide continuity of care during the summer months by supporting continued counseling sessions, virtual and community-based support options, therapeutic resources and coping tools, group support programs, and crisis intervention when needed. A donation of $25 supports one student counseling session, $50 provides coping tools and resources, $100 funds a week of continued mental health support, and $250 or more helps sustain summer counseling for multiple students.

Every child deserves access to mental health support not just during the school year, but year-round. Your donation helps ensure that students don’t lose the support they rely on simply because school is out. Together, we can provide stability, hope, and continuity, keeping students grounded, supported, and anchored even during the summer months. Summer shouldn’t be a setback; it should be a continuation of growth.