BlueSky Youth Mental Health Initiative is sponsored by Blue Shield of California. This multi-year initiative promotes emotional well-being for young people across California, particularly youth in marginalized communities. It supports best-in-class nonprofit organizations and programs for therapy, training, and youth advocacy.

BlueSky from Blue Shield of California | Blue Shield of California’s youth mental health initiative Blue Shield of California’s youth mental health initiative The foundations of mental health begin in childhood and play into a person’s well-being throughout life. Mental illness is the number 1 reason California children are hospitalized Children Now 2020 , pg.

15 94% of Gen Z youth experience mental health challenges on a monthly basis BlueSky Youth Mental Health Survey 2025 Among youth who wanted professional mental health support but didn’t receive it, 35% cite embarrassment as a barrier.

BlueSky Youth Mental Health Survey 2025 to high-quality mental health counseling and support, especially among underrepresented youth from Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, and mixed-race backgrounds, as well as LGBTQ+ youth. by training adults to recognize youth mental health challenges and provide appropriate support, especially for underrepresented youth.

among youth to educate and engage their peers to utilize resources that support their own mental health. “It gave me a safe place at school where I could talk about my feelings to someone who actually cares and helped me through what I was dealing with.

” Alongside Blue Shield of California, Hundreds of Young People Brave the Rain to Speak Up for Mental Health California Schools and Community Leaders Step Up for Youth Mental Health Blue Shield of California and California Department of Education Offer Youth Mental Health First Aid Training to California Teachers Mental Health Matters: Youth Voices Call for Action and an End to Stigma Blue Shield of California and Wellness Together Honor California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom With 2025 Mental Health Innovator Award New Poll: 94% of Gen Z Youth Report Experiencing Regular Mental Health Challenges Back to School Stress: How One High School Senior Is Championing Mental Health 5 Back-to-School Health Tips for Families Blue Shield of California Releases 2024 Mission Report: A Letter From Interim President and CEO Mike Stuart Speaking up, Reaching Out: How One Teen Is Advocating for Youth Mental Health Our distinguished partners Since 2019 BlueSky has supported these distinguished partners: California Alliance for Children and Family Services (CACFS) California Alliance for Children and Family Services (CACFS) promotes the health, well-being and safety of children, youth and families in California as a collective voice impacting policy and best practices to strengthen the systems that serve them.

​California Children’s Trust California Children’s Trust is reimagining California’s approach to children’s behavioral health. It is an initiative to achieve health equity and healthy development for California’s children, youth, and families. Directing Change engages young people throughout California to learn about suicide prevention and mental health, and then educate their peers through creative filmmaking.

Northern California Grantmaker’s Youth Power Fund (YPF) Northern California Grantmaker’s Youth Power Fund (YPF) is a collaboration between YO! California and funders that promotes youth organizing to advance justice and equity by engaging in trust-based philanthropy. One of YPF’s priorities is providing mental health, wellness and healing for youth.

​Wellness Together partners with K-12 school districts to provide turn-key mental health services for students, families, and educators. We support their counselors at 22 middle and high schools in Alameda and San Diego counties. ​University of California, San Francisco BlueSky is honored to partner with UCSF to evaluate BlueSky and our impact.

​Health Career Connection (HCC) ​Health Career Connection (HCC) is building the next generation of diverse health leaders and professionals. HCC empowers undergraduate students and recent graduates to choose and successfully pursue health careers that best suit their talents, passions, and goals.

​Mental Health California’s Brother Be Well ​Mental Health California’s Brother Be Well offers a multimedia platform for boys and men of color, blending awareness, innovation, education, and healing pathways to reduce disparities, disrupt prolonged suffering, and improve health and mental wellness. ​DoSomething. org fuels young people to change the world, tackling issues ranging from social justice to mental health.

​NAMI California’s On Campus ​NAMI California’s On Campus clubs raise mental health awareness, educate the campus community, and reduce stigma in schools through peer-led activities, education, and advocacy. We fund programs that expand mental health and wellness access, awareness, and advocacy to support California’s youth.

Our funding is by invitation only and focuses on addressing health disparities and serving youth and communities of color.