Case study · Crestwood High School
Small city making big movesHow Crestwood High School provides 24/7 support for students via the Counslr app
100% of Crestwood students and faculty who had sessions had never sought mental health support before.
About Crestwood High School
Located in rural Northeast Iowa, the Howard-Winneshiek Community School District (Howard-Winn) has been experiencing a "brain drain" as graduates leave the region for perceived superior opportunities in metro areas. This has caused an urgency for change and created a condition for the need to be creative. Throughout the organization, new thinking and structure is emerging.
Why Counslr?
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services indicates that about 60% of Iowa communities experience a shortage of mental health care. Howard-Winn's partnership with the Counslr app represents an extension of their district's strong focus on embedding technology to help high school students whenever they want support without the added worry of health care shortages and long wait times.
What happened
Counslr eliminates common barriers to mental health care—cost, inconvenience, and stigma—left by an overburdened healthcare system, making support accessible to those who need help but haven't sought it.
“I knew it was critical to make changes so students' mental health needs are being met. The Counslr App has been a game-changer, providing a safe and accessible mental health support system for our community.”
Lisa DurskyCrestwood High School Principal“The app reaches students who were previously unreachable—those who felt too intimidated or ashamed to ask for help in person. Now, these students have a safe and accessible way to connect with mental health resources, and I've seen firsthand how it's changed their lives.”