Looking for a last minute gift? I previously wrote a list of the top 10 mental health gifts for someone with bipolar disorder. One of them may be heading your way through Amazon or another source right now. But if you only have a few days left, you might consider donating to a mental health charity in the name of the donation recipient. The question is, which mental health charities are the best? Here, I provide you with some of the best mental health charities that are highly rated by independent third parties and that I believe do good work.
Top-Rated Mental Health Charities to Support This Holiday Season
I know there are many deserving charities and there are also many deserving mental health charities, so it can be difficult to choose where to put your donation. These are some of the best mental health charities when you want to help people with serious mental illnesses like bipolar disorder.
(Click on the charity name below to go to their website and donate. Click the Charity Navigator or Charity Watch link to learn more about why each is a top health charity mental).
- The Foundation for Brain and Behavior Research — This charity is classified 100% by Charity Navigator and a Go for Charity Watchpointing out that 84% of the money they receive goes directly to their programs (and not to overhead expenses). I like them because they focus on alleviating the suffering caused by mental illness by providing grants that they hope will lead to breakthroughs and advancements in scientific research. Mental illnesses are underrepresented in the research landscape.
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — This charity is classified 100% by Charity Navigator and a Go for Charity Watchpointing out that 80% of the money they receive goes directly to programs. They are the best mental health charity because they fund scientific research, educate the public about mental health and suicide prevention, advocate for public policy in mental health and suicide prevention, and support survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide. If suicide has affected you, you understand its devastation and know why this work is so important.
- The Trevor Project – Best Mental Health Charity Rated 100% by Charity Navigator (not rated by Charity Watch) and works to end suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and questioning youth. These young people are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers and need all the help they can get.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) National — This Extremely Common Mental Health Charity Is Rated 98% by Charity Navigator and a For charity Look, and notice that 87% of the money they receive goes to programs. The stated mission of this organization is to improve the lives of people and their families living with serious mental illness. This mental health charity is the best because it runs programs and support groups throughout the United States and supports not only people with mental illness but also their loved ones (people who are often overlooked).
- Mental Health America — This mental health charity is rated 100% by Charity Navigator and a Go for Charity Watchnoting that 80% of the money raised goes directly to programs. This mental health charity is dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the general mental health of all.
How to choose a mental health charity
For me, a mental health charity is best when it focuses on mental health. disease more than mental health. Everyone has mental health, but only a minority have a mental illness, and we are the group that is underrepresented in research and funding. If you’re donating on behalf of someone with a mental illness, that’s something to keep in mind.
Of course, it’s also very important that a mental health charity uses its funds for programs more than you hear (and believe me, not all of them do). That’s why third-party ratings, like those from Charity Watch and Charity Navigator, are so important. So if you want to donate to another charity, say something at the state level, I recommend checking those sources to see the rating given to your chosen charity.
Additional Mental Health Charities to Consider
Of course, the above are just five big mental health charities; there are many others. For more information, check out these lists:
In short, consider the condition of the person you are giving the gift to, make sure the charity’s focus matches, and make sure the charity is as helpful as possible to the people they want to help by checking their qualifications. .
And from me, thank you for contributing to a cause near and dear to my heart. I hope that we will eventually see a day when bipolar disorder and other serious mental illnesses are manageable for everyone.
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