I have been volunteering for HIKE for Mental Health for a relatively short period of time. In getting to know more about the organization I wanted to understand how hiking, specifically this organization, raised funds that support mental health, and where the funds were allocated. So I delved more into the website to find out. 

How Are Funds Raised?

HIKE for Mental Health organizes hikes, or hikers can register their own hikes. Either way, hikers then collect sponsorships to participate in the hikes. One hundred percent of the net proceeds are distributed to the mission causes, with 80% of the funds allocated to scientific research through the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, and 20% to support preservation of wilderness trails, such as the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. 

With 80% of the funds allocated to Brain and Behavior Research Foundation I was curious how much money HIKE for Mental Health has contributed to date. I checked with Leo Walker, president and treasurer, and he said that to date HIKE for Mental Health has contributed $602,014.16 to advance the foundation’s work. Yes, you read that right….$602,014.16!! With that said, the remainder of this article will focus on what the foundation does, and highlight the many resources you can find on their website. 

What Does the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation Do?

The foundation’s mission is to award grants that will lead to advances in treating mental health disorders. One hundred percent of the funds donated is for research. The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation is the nation’s top non-governmental funder of mental health research grants, with more than $450 million awarded to research grants since 1987. This includes research conducted by over 5,400 scientists across more than 599 institutions. The research funded focuses on:

• Addiction
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety
• Autism
• Bipolar Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Suicide Prevention
  

You can read much more detailed information about the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation by visiting their website.

Exploring the website of the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation

The foundation’s website is full of many resources and information. They provide specific information about the disorders listed above, the research funded in these areas, and the research findings. While the resources are briefly described here, you are encouraged to explore this beneficial information. Click here to begin.

One great resource that the foundation has is their Healthy Minds TV series on PBS. It focuses on removing the stigma of mental illness by sharing personal stories and expert knowledge in diagnosis, treatment, and research. There are nine seasons of the series. Examples of some of the episodes are:

• Help for Veterans and Military Families
• Suicide Prevention
• Eating Disorders
• Personality Disorders
• Chemical Dependency

To see all of the episodes in each season, click here. 

Perhaps you would like to view some webinars. The foundation has many webinars to explore. There is a series on meeting the scientists who are conducting the research, as well as webinars about special events. To watch these webinars and view their special events, click here.

If reading blogs is your preference, the foundation has that, too! There are over 50 topics within the blog to search and read. You can do so by clicking here

Lastly, you can sign up to receive their news and magazine via email. Simply click here and provide your email address. 

As you explore all that the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation does and has to offer you will likely begin to understand why HIKE for Mental Health has contributed to the advancement of their work. If you would like to join one of our hikes, or create your own, visit our website for more details. By doing so you can share the joy of hiking while helping those with mental illness. Happy trails!!!