Why I Donate to CHADS

Instead of finding support, acceptance, and a safe place, families that have a child struggling with their mental health are often met with judgment, condemnation, and ridicule. Finding themselves at the center of gossip—not only by the general public but by those closest to them—many choose to remain silent and avoid asking for help. While youth mental health has garnered more attention in the media with the increase in school shootings, the stigma surrounding it remains. And it is because of that stigma and the desire to give families a safe place the owner of Sweet Hope Bakery, Colleen Williams, chooses to donate to CHADS.

An Advocate for Youth Mental Health

As a mom of three teenagers, business owner, and youth mental health advocate, Colleen isn't without a daily to-do list. However, when one of her children was diagnosed with OCD, depression, and anxiety, her world changed, and she began the journey of seeking help for her child and, in the process, becoming an advocate for youth mental health. An avid baker for years, Colleen opened Sweet Hope Bakery in December 2020 to share her treats with the public and provide hope to those suffering. She wanted to partner with an organization that reaches people she knows—parents walking through a mental health crisis with their child—and remind them they're not alone in this journey. And it is through her philanthropy work with CHADS she hopes to change the conversation surrounding mental health and give parents of children struggling with theirs a safe place.

"I hope to open the conversation about youth mental health so that parents, in particular, can feel they have a safe space to have a conversation without the fear of being judged or someone saying something negative about their child. I know what it's like to have dark days and feel isolated. I hope that one day people can ask, "How are you doing?" and you can feel safe to say: "It's really rough right now."

Colleen supports CHADS by donating and is a regular participant in our "All In Conversations,”—an open forum hosted by CHADS that allows our community a place to learn and have open-ended conversations about mental health and how to provide support for those struggling. Through her business and philanthropy work with CHADS, she hopes more people can choose compassion as their response when they meet a parent with a child struggling with mental health. Thank you, Colleen, for your work with CHADS. Together we will change the youth mental health conversation—one talk at a time.