At BGCO, Healthy Lives Start with Healthy Minds
Dear Friend,
As a mother, a long-time mental health advocate, and a dedicated champion of children and families, World Mental Health Day is a critical reminder for me and my community to pause and reflect deeply on how we are truly doing mentally, emotionally, and physically. If anything in the world, our reflection will highlight some work to be done, whether it be healing, evolving, or grounding. You are now part of that community, as well as all the thousands of youth and families the Girls & Boys Clubs of Oakland (BGCO) are honored to serve.
Our Oakland children, especially, need us to model mental wellness and care. In fact, Oakland Fund for Children and Youth reported, “Youth growing up in neighborhoods in East and West Oakland face the highest levels of poverty, environmental stressors, and arrests, and the poorest outcomes for early development, health, school success, and transitions to adulthood.” This is exactly where our BGCO Clubhouses are intentionally located, and where we are actively working to address the unique challenges our children face.
There are no quick fixes, nor will challenges ever fully cease to exist; with every generation, new social climates, advanced technologies, and different mental health stressors emerge. To that point, on September 30, 2025, The BlueSky Youth Mental Health Survey released its mental health poll results, which included 750 youth aged 14 to 25 in California.
“The data shows youth are deeply affected by the world around them, from climate anxiety and safety to social media pressures. Young people are concerned about the future and how we treat one another,” said Dr. Nicole Steiler, director of Behavioral Health at Blue Shield of California. “It's more important than ever that clinicians, educators, policymakers and caring adults listen to what our youth are saying and treat this seriously for what it is — a youth mental health crisis.”
BGCO believes deeply that together we can find inspired paths to improve the mental health of our youth. We won't shy away from standing ten toes down in Trial Town Business, and that business is ensuring we show up for our kids, just as we have since 1883.
I know you are right there with us — thank you!
Today, let's find time to reflect and be in community with one another.
Thoughtfully,
Laila E. Dreidame
Vice President Advancement & Development
Girls & Boys Clubs of Oakland
Mental Health Resources
For information on how to support the youth in your lives, we invite you to explore the following resources:
Support Youth Mental Health
Your support helps us create safe, nurturing environments where Oakland's youth can thrive mentally, emotionally, and physically. Join us in building healthy futures for the next generation.