We are in a mental health crisis. There are no two ways around it. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 US Adults experience mental illness each year. 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24. For those who can afford the towering costs of mental health assistance, the journey toward healing is still long and arduous. For those who cannot, it is an almost impossible task. Practitioners bear the brunt of overwhelming caseloads and dwindling resources to allocate. We all lose when healing becomes exclusionary.

On October 19-22nd, I will travel to Stratton, Vermont to participate in a unique endurance event. 250 athletes from around the world attempting to hike 29,029ft- the height of Mount Everest- in 36 hours or less. I have decided on my own accord to turn my journey into a fundraiser benefitting the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network, a healing justice organization committed to transforming mental health for queer and trans people of color- some of the most marginalized voices in society who desperately need and deserve access to safe healing spaces. 70% of all proceeds from this fundraiser will go directly to NQTTCN. 30% of all proceeds will go directly to helping me, Kate Bell, pay off my own monthly mental health expenses, which my insurance unfortunately does not cover. Should you wish for your personal donation to go strictly to NQTTCN or strictly to me, please identify that in the comments of your donation and I will ensure it is routed properly.

When it comes to telling Queer stories, Black stories, and Trans stories, there is no one better to hold the microphone than members of those communities. Please read the following excerpt from the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network website.

"Due to the compounding impacts of elevated levels of poverty, stigma, harassment, lack of legal protection, discrimination, violence, lack of healthcare coverage, and systemic racism, no community is more gravely affected by the barriers to affordable and affirming mental health services than transgender people of color. (HRC) In fact, transgender individuals are nearly four times as likely as cisgender individuals to experience a mental health condition (NAMI), and have more barriers to accessing services."

When you donate to this fundraiser, here are some of the programs you are directly impacting:

• Mental Health Fund: Individuals who identify as queer, trans, or people of color can apply for therapy scholarships from NQTTCN. Grants can reach up to 8 $100 sessions with a trained mental health professional so that healing can be accessible to ALL.

• Practitioner Development: Mental health professionals can share resources/skills, attend leadership development training, and participate in burnout prevention through community building using NQTTCN's platform.

• Technical Assistance for Social Justice Organizations: They provide healing justice training, coaching, and consultation for organizations working with QTPoC.

Please watch this video featuring Founder and Executive Director Erica Woodland as he shares with us the vital work that the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network is doing to increase access to mental health support for queer and trans people of color – delivered by queer and trans therapists of color: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvsRn6fUfq4.

I have been on my therapy journey for almost 3 years now. I work a second job to afford my out-of-pocket therapy costs, and even this is a massive privilege. If we are to live in a more just society we all must have access to healing, and not just as a result of working 2 jobs or making other sacrifices. I am so grateful you are here with me on this journey. Thank you for your time, and thank you in advance for any donation- no matter how big or small- that will go directly to helping people who need it the most.