Giving is one way to get on Santa’s nice list but generosity is good for your mental health, too. Here’s a round up of nonprofits helping people struggling with depression and other emotional challenges. Please consider supporting one of them this holiday season.
Created in 2012 as a way to kick start the season of goodwill, #GivingTuesday is a yearly global initiative that calls attention to donations of time and money to specific charities. It takes place every year on the Tuesday following the Thanksgiving holiday. But you don’t have to wait for GivingTuesday to support nonprofit groups doing working you appreciate! Plus, legit research actually shows that acts of generosity can actually boost your physical and mental health.
Countless charities are deserving of attention from ongoing and one-time givers, but given the impact of the pandemic on our collective feelings of “stress, anxiety, grief, and worry,” the CDC says mental-health related organizations may deserve more attention right now.
“Mental and behavioral health services were already tough for many Americans to access before the pandemic hit the United States, with six in 10 people not receiving the care they need,” noted American Medical Association in April 2021. “COVID-19 has put even more stress and strain on people and made access to this care more important than ever.”
What is GivingTuesday?
Giving suggests GivingTuesday, can be personal, local, specific, random, mission-oriented, or a combination of these. For individuals interested in arbitrary giving opportunities, the site offers a weekly Tuesday “giving prompts” e-newsletter subscription. While the GivingTuesday campaign is a driver and encourager of charitable giving, it is up to individuals to determine where their time and money might be directed.
GivingTuesday is also dubbed #CryptoGivingTuesday because some nonprofits—including Mental Health America, Project Sanctuary, and others—allow financial donations to be made in the form of such digital currency like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Z-cash (ZEC), Filecoin (FIL), Dogecoin (DOGE) or any tokens currently accepted on the Gemini Exchange.
How to Find a Reputable Mental Health Charity
With an estimated 1.5 million registered nonprofits in the United States, according to 2020’s National Center for Charitable Statistics report, determining viable avenues for donatable funds and volunteerism can be tricky.
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In May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, Charity Navigator—a free online nonprofit assessment service—provided a star-rated list of 19 recommended mental health organizations that deliver education and awareness and/or services to people struggling to achieve mental wellness. Among the four-star mentions on the list—plus some other organizations with high confidence ratings:
1. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The grassroots effort’s goals are to provide “advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.” A bonus to donating funds to NAMI through December 31st. is that the giving amount will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000.
2. Mental Health America (MHA)
The 1909-founded organization addresses the needs of those living with mental illness as well as promotes “the overall mental health of all.” MHA has, according to current statistics, impacted 31 million people through public education programs.
3. The Jed Foundation
The nonprofit exists to protect teens’ and young adults’ emotional health and to prevent suicide. Jed partners with high schools and colleges to strengthen mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention programs and systems.
4. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
The organization hyper-focuses on understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy. Another facet is reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide through shared stories and resources. Local chapters promote volunteerism and advocacy.
5. Project Sanctuary
The organization targets the needs of military families who might need mental health healing and empowerment due to loss, trauma, suicide or addiction. Giving financially and volunteering support mental healing-oriented retreats and whole-family support programs.
6. American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF)
As a supporter of the American Psychiatric Association, the purpose of the Foundation is to establish public outreach programs and support aimed not only at advancing quality mental health but at eliminating the stigma of mental illness.
7. Active Minds
The 2003-incorporated suicide prevention organization is present in more than 1,000 schools, communities, and workplaces nationwide, including 600 student-led chapters. Offered are speakers, exhibits, and educational material.
8. To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA)
The nonprofit movement is dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Multiple ways to get involved exist, including online, professionally, within communities, or via various internship programs.
9. American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP)
Charity Navigator rates AAAP with a 94 out of 100 for its aim “to promote high-quality evidence-based screening, assessment and treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental disorders and to strengthen addiction psychiatry specialty training and education.” The organization’s site provides educational resources on specific addiction issues as well as a list of recovery centers by state. For more information, visit
10. Battlefield Addiction
Rated a 90 by Charity Navigators, this nonprofit works to reconnect addicts with their families and their communities. Anyone involved in the Battlefield Addiction program learns “transformative teachings” to learn how to re-connect with the parts of life that are neglected when addiction overwhelms someone’s life.
11. The Trevor Project
This nonprofit is “the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people,” according to its website. Donations help fund its free-to-use, 24/7 crisis services including a hotline and text line, as well as training for volunteers and work to create laws to protect young LGBTQ people.
12. Trans Lifeline
The 501(c)(3) offers a host of resources for trans people and their families and friends, including hotlines (available in English and Spanish), emotional support tools and a network of welcoming communities on the gaming platform Twitch.
And then there are always local mental health-related efforts for which your funds and/or your time are appreciated. Do some homework. Ask around and look up local newspaper articles to determine what is available and how the organization’s services and programs have benefitted individuals in your community.