Behavioral Health interns helping youth find steady ground
Mental health support at Community Youth Center of San Francisco does not begin in a crisis moment. It begins in daily, structured relationships—where young people are listened to, taken seriously, and supported over time by adults who know their schools, cultures, and communities.
This year, nineteen Behavioral Health interns joined CYC programs across San Francisco, working alongside experienced staff to support students at elementary, middle, and high school sites citywide. Interns are placed at schools including Garfield Elementary; Aptos, Francisco, and Marina middle schools; Burton, Lincoln, Mission, and Washington high schools; Lawton Alternative School; San Francisco Community School; and with youth participating in probation-connected programs.
Together, they provide consistent, school-embedded mental health support—helping students navigate stress, relationships, and major transitions during critical years of development.
Meeting a real need
Mental health needs in Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities are often overlooked. Beyond the Surface, a report published by The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), found that nearly half of respondents experience symptoms of moderate depression, and that three in ten young people have considered or attempted suicide.
These findings reflect pressures many young people carry—academic expectations, family responsibilities, and the influence of social media. In that context, places that feel steady and grounding matter.
At the TAAF AAPI Mental Health Summit in November 2025, Program Director Henry Ha shared how CYC became that steady place for him after immigrating to San Francisco as a teenager. Later, Dragon Boat gave him a sense of connection and direction during a difficult period. That same sense of stability appears across programs at CYC, whether on the water, in an afterschool classroom, or during a counseling session where a young person feels heard.
Support takes many forms
Behavioral Health interns often become a point of connection for youth who need time and space to sort through stress. Interns and staff support students as they notice emotions, talk through challenges, and build habits that help them manage day-to-day pressures.
June Guan, a second-year MFT student at the University of San Francisco, reflected on how much young people often carry quietly. “A lot of students are working through more than people realize,” she said. “They’re incredibly resilient.” She also emphasized the importance of sincerity. “You have to be genuine. They know if you don’t really care.”
For Mark Guo, a first-year MFT student at Golden Gate University, the work centers on patience. “You can’t rush trust,” he said. “You build it moment by moment.”
Moments that stay with you
Each intern can point to moments that stay with them.
Anu Kirk recalled meeting a student who arrived withdrawn and overwhelmed. “He barely spoke,” Anu said. “There was a lot happening at home, and he didn’t have anyone he felt safe talking to.” They met regularly, and over time, the student began to settle. “One day he walked in smiling. The color came back into his face. Seeing that change reminded me why this work matters.”
June described seeing similar shifts. “The teenagers fill me with hope,” she said. “They’re planning for their futures. They’re excited. They want to build something meaningful.”
Mark, who works with students at Francisco High School, shared a related observation. “A lot of kids are carrying heavy things,” he said, “and they still show up trying. That takes strength.”
Together, these reflections offer a window into both the resilience of the young people involved and the care brought by emerging clinicians.
Looking ahead
Behavioral Health work at CYC is shaped by cultural awareness, patience, and relationship-building. Interns learn what it means to meet youth where they are, while being supported by staff who guide them through complex moments.
Anu, who works with students at Burton High School, said what surprised him most was the culture. “People here know their stuff,” he said, “and they lead with honesty and warmth.” He shared how staff help interns navigate serious situations while staying grounded.
These experiences stay with interns as they move forward in their training and careers.
Sustaining youth mental health
Behavioral health support depends on consistency. Through the Heart of the Holidays campaign, community members can help sustain mental health support for young people across San Francisco.
Support helps ensure that when youth need time, care, and steady presence, those resources remain available.