On August 22, 2019, our founder, Susan Crooks, lost her son Walt due to treatment-resistant anxiety and depression. Because of this, Susan and her other son, Will, decided to keep Walt’s mission of reducing suffering alive by forming our non-profit organization, Walt’s Waltz. We aim to end the stigma surrounding mental health struggles through educational programs, the arts, stigma-free environments, and research. Mental Health struggles affect too many people and we aim to change that! We must do better!

We are an organization that is almost entirely run by volunteers and interns, and we could use your help!

Walt’s Waltz ends the stigma that surrounds those with mental health struggles through professionally led education programs, advocacy efforts, integration of the performing and visual arts, and creation of Stigma-Free Environments. But Walt’s Waltz doesn’t stop there. To further reduce suffering and suicides, Walt’s Waltz advocates for equitable funding for research toward novel curative therapies including precision medicine utilizing genetics and epigenetic research.

• Mental Health Literacy is the necessary first step in breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health conditions. Hosting live, professionally-led presentations with discussions encourages participation and dispels long-held myths. Additionally, we meet with stakeholders to discuss the need for a national curriculum for mental health as we have for physical health. Presently, preconceived assumptions and biases can exist even in the good intended as they shout “Break the Stigma!”

• Take Your Mental Health Temperature initiative encourages taking a screening to check in on the level/severity of your anxiety, depression, and/or other mental health conditions. Although not diagnostic, it can help people comprehend the seriousness of their condition and encourage them to reach out for help.

• Arts Integration includes the integration of the visual and performing arts into our programs as a wellness strategy and a medium to open up conversations.

• The Mental Health Moonshot initiative advocates for robust funding for early diagnosis of mental health conditions with the goal of novel curative therapies. This research has been drastically underfunded and requires a moonshot.

• Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environments empower the establishment of safe spaces for open communication in the workplace, educational institutions, military, and social settings; truly everywhere. As a Stigma-Free Environment, businesses and organizations boldly stand with those with mental and physical conditions. They promote attendance of educational programs and the signing of the Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Pledge.

Our Core Values

Honesty- “Balancing truth and trust”

Compassion - “Walking in another’s shoes”

Accountability- “Standing firm in our promises”

Shared Humanity- “Together, we are stronger” (“The connection behind shared humanity is experienced at a deeper level. It means acknowledging that every human needs to be seen, heard, recognised for who they are, taken into account, valued, and given the chance to live a life of hope, freedom and fairness.” - happiness.com)

Inclusion- “Weaving every voice into our shared journey”

Fair Mindedness- “Navigating moments with justice and equity”

Our Mottos:

• “Let’s stop dancing around mental health conversations”

• “Step Out of Stigma”

• “Take your mental health temperature”