We are a team of students from the University of North Texas raising funds to support Mental Health America (MHA), one of the nation's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving mental health and well-being.

Throughout this project, we realized that mental health is much more than a topic we researched for class. It affects families, friends, classmates, coworkers, and entire communities every single day. That realization inspired us to create Every Mind Matters because we believe every person deserves compassion, understanding, and access to the support they need, regardless of where they are in their mental health journey.

Founded in 1909, Mental Health America has spent more than a century working to improve mental health through education, research, advocacy, public policy, and direct services (Mental Health America, n.d.). With a network of more than 130 affiliates across the country, MHA is committed to reducing stigma, promoting prevention and early intervention, and connecting individuals and families with the resources they need before a crisis occurs. Their work includes free, confidential mental health screenings, educational resources, workplace wellness initiatives, advocacy efforts, and research that helps improve mental health care across the United States.

As we learned more about Mental Health America and the work they do, we quickly realized why their mission is so important. Mental health affects all of us in some way. At some point in our lives, many of us will either experience a mental health challenge ourselves or know someone who does. Yet despite how common mental health conditions are, many people continue to struggle in silence because of stigma, misunderstanding, or limited access to care.

Two members of our team wanted to share why this cause became so meaningful to them.

One member of our team shared the story of their uncle, who struggled for several years with symptoms that affected his daily life, relationships, and ability to function independently. During this time, it was difficult, and it continues to be difficult, for family members to understand what he was experiencing or how to help him. Many people assumed his behavior was caused by trauma, drug abuse, an accident, or simply part of his personality rather than symptoms of an underlying mental health condition. After years of challenges and uncertainty, he was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia.

One challenge their family continues to face is the stigma surrounding mental illness. Their grandmother struggles to accept the diagnosis because she hoped it was something temporary that would simply go away. Mental illness is often misunderstood, and many people do not realize that recovery is not an on-and-off switch. Some days are better than others, and ongoing support is often needed. Receiving the diagnosis provided answers, but it also showed how important mental health education, awareness, and access to resources truly are. Their family's experience reminded all of us that mental illness affects not only the individual but also everyone who loves and supports them.

Another member of our team shared his own journey.

"In my journey to bettering myself, I want to share my personal experience with mental health and how it has drastically altered my perspective. Once, I was a well-renowned student athlete who lived and breathed sports. I was fortunate enough to play college football, pouring my heart into the sport I loved. However, after just one year, I made the difficult decision to leave school. Shortly after that, I faced one of the hardest moments of my life when my father passed away.

From April 2020 to June 2023, I spent years searching for ways to reignite the spark I had once felt. During that time, I joined the military, celebrated the birth of my daughter, and experienced many significant life events. Yet despite these milestones, I often felt an overwhelming emptiness that never seemed to go away. Sports had always been my outlet. Without that outlet, I found myself turning toward anger with no clear way to escape that long-lasting rage.

Everything began to change when my daughter was born and I discovered skydiving. Becoming a father gave me a new perspective on life, while skydiving challenged me to face my fears head-on and gave me something meaningful to work toward. Those experiences significantly improved my mental health.

I share my story because I know many athletes struggle to find that same spark again after their careers change. Life can be incredibly challenging, but it is also filled with opportunities for growth, healing, and rediscovery."

Although these stories are different, they share one important message. Mental health affects people of every age, background, profession, and community. No one should have to face those challenges alone.

Mental health is an essential part of our overall health and well-being. It affects how we think, feel, manage stress, build relationships, and make decisions throughout every stage of life. Talking openly about mental health helps reduce stigma, encourages people to seek help sooner, and reminds others that asking for help is a sign of strength.

Unfortunately, the need for support continues to grow.

Across the United States:

Here in Texas:

These numbers represent much more than statistics. They represent our neighbors, friends, coworkers, classmates, and loved ones.

The more we learned about Mental Health America, the more we understood the impact they have on individuals, families, and communities across the country. Their work goes far beyond raising awareness. They provide education, advocacy, research, prevention programs, and free mental health resources that help people find support before they reach a crisis point. That is why our team chose to support MHA, and why we hope you will too.

How Your Donation Helps

Your support helps Mental Health America continue making a difference by:

Every donation, regardless of the amount, helps create healthier communities where people feel supported, understood, and empowered to seek help.

To learn more about Mental Health America, visit https://mhanational.org.

You can also:

Mental health affects every family, every workplace, every classroom, and every community. Together, we have the opportunity to make a difference. Whether you choose to donate, share our campaign, or simply start a conversation about mental health, you are helping create a future where fewer people struggle in silence and more people feel supported.

Thank you for believing, just as we do, that Every Mind Matters.

Sources:

About Mental Health America | Mental Health America. (2026). Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/about-mha/

Access to Care | Mental Health America. (2025, March 5). Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/the-state-of-mental-health-in-america/data-rankings/access-to-care/

NSDUH National Releases | CBHSQ Data. (2025). Samhsa.gov. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/data-we-collect/nsduh-national-survey-drug-use-and-health/national-releases

OpenAI. (2026). Every Mind Matters Cover Photo [Generated by ChatGPT Large Language Model]. https://chatgpt.com/

Quick facts | Mental Health America. (2025, March 5). Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/quick-facts/

Texas. (2025). Www.commonwealthfund.org. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/datacenter/texas

Texas Health Data - Mental Health. (n.d.). Healthdata.dshs.texas.gov. https://healthdata.dshs.texas.gov/dashboard/mental-health/mental-health

What we do | Mental Health America. (2026). Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/what-we-do/