What Mental Health Scholarships Could You Receive for College?
College may be difficult for students who have a mental disability. Mental health scholarships could relieve some of the stress of paying for college. These awards are usually available based on financial need, GPA, and your diagnosis.
You may also find mental health scholarships for diverse educational goals too. You may apply for the RJ Mitte Breaking Barriers Scholarship. It is funded by the Breaking Bad actor. It intends to help high school and college students who have a mental or physical disability. There will be one winner for the $1,000 award this year.
There are also scholarships for graduate students with mental health conditions as well. The Disability Care Center offers an annual award of $500. To apply, you must write a 500 to 1,500 word essay on how your hardship affects your daily life.
Some providers offer mental health scholarships for certain disabilities. The LEAD Foundation Dottie R. Walker Scholarship offers a $1,000 scholarship to those with ADD/ADHD. To be eligible, you must be a Colorado high school senior who is willing to serve as a role model for others.
10 Scholarships for Mental Health You Should Apply for in 2021
These 10 mental health scholarships that are available for many college students. If you qualify, apply soon before the due date!
Pride Foundation Associates in Behavioral Health Scholarship
RJ Mitte Breaking Barriers Scholarship
Pine Cone Foundation Scholarship
Behavioral Health Academic Scholarship Program
Buckfire & Buckfire Disability Scholarship
Richard Louis Caplan Memorial Scholarship for Mental Health
Brea Little Moore Memorial Scholarship
Dennis Elroy Barry Memorial Scholarship
IBPF Essay Contest
KFM Making a Difference for Autism Scholarship
Which Mental Health Conditions Could Get You Awards?
There are a range of mental and emotional issues that may qualify you for mental health scholarships. You also have to check the provider’s eligibility criteria and application info.
Not everyone has the same experience with mental illness. But, in 2019 almost one in five adults in the U.S. suffered with it according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
For some, the diagnosis is “mild”. These conditions include:
Depression
Eating disorder (E.g. anorexia, bulimia)
Anxiety disorders
Learning disability (E.g. ADHD, autism)
Others may also suffer from a severe form of psychiatric disorder that limits how they function. These include:
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
Are There Scholarships for Students Studying Mental Illnesses?
Yes, there are also mental health scholarship for those who plan to major in behavioral health or substance abuse in college.
The Behavioral Health Academic Scholarship Program is one. It is for U.S. high school seniors who major in behavioral health sciences. You may study counseling, psychology, social work, nursing, or a related field.
There’s also the Future Counselors of America Scholarship. It is for students who major in psychology and plan to go into the counseling field. If you’re in an undergraduate program or pursuing a graduate degree, you may qualify.
Do you hope to impact policy about a mental health condition? If so check the Mental Health System Reform Scholarship. Eligibility includes a 3.0 GPA. This mental health scholarship is open to both undergrads and graduate students.
What Organizations Help Students with Mental Illness and Provide Financial Aid?
Both businesses and nonprofits set aside scholarship funds for students with a mental disability. When searching for these mental health scholarships, check local sources. The John Lepping Memorial Scholarship is for students in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. If you have a physical disability, autism or PTSD you may qualify.
Also look for scholarships for mental health related to your major. Microsoft aims to empower and enable people with disabilities. The Microsoft Disability Scholarship is for 12th graders who are passionate about tech. It is for high school seniors who plan to attend a trade school or accredited college. This $5,000 mental health awards are renewable for up to four years.
Many nonprofits also offer financial aid to reward volunteer efforts as well. The JED Foundation supports students who struggle with mental health. Undergraduate students who raise awareness for mental health issues on campus may qualify for their $3,000 scholarship award.
6 Helpful Tips to Take Care of Your Mental Health in College
It’s important to take care of your well being so that college plus any other issues you face don’t derail you or boost your anxiety level. Check out these helpful suggestions.
1. You are not alone so remember to find support.
Many community colleges and four year schools offer counseling services. There might also be online resources, a student hotline and workshops that teach you how to manage stress and not panic.
2. Communicate with friends and family.
Build a network of people you trust. Family, friends, a professor, advisor, fraternity brother or sorority sister are good contacts to reach out to.
If you’re also away at school, remember to stay in touch with your friends and family. Have that visit over FaceTime or Skype to maintain these tried and true relationships.
3. Schedule your time.
Sticking to a schedule and routine can be a great comfort. That means going to sleep and waking up at around the same hour every day. Also, try to put your school work and classes into your calendar Don’t forget to set a reminder to apply for mental health scholarships.
4. Explore new things.
College is also a time to try a new activity or hobby. It could be a club or team to join that you find interesting.
5. Stay fit and eat healthy.
Exercise releases endorphins which are chemicals in the body that combat stress. Find some kind of movement (including yoga and possibly, meditation). Also remember to put healthy food into your diet and get enough rest.
6. Check in with yourself.
A diary is a useful way to manage your moods and inner health. If you notice a dip in energy, performance or feelings, make sure to seek help.
List of Mental Health Scholarships
Check out our list of 64 mental health scholarships worth $562K.
John Fisher is devoted to fighting for the rights of suicide victims and their families. Suicide is the leading cause of preventable death in our country. Sadly, those suffering from depression and mental health illnesses are often neglected or under-treated in our health system. Mr. Fisher is proud to introduce Anthony’s Scholarship, a scholarship created to educate and provide resources to those suffering from suicidal ideation and depression and their families.
This award is aptly named after one of the many victims of suicide, Anthony Banhart. Anthony cared deeply for his family. He was generous, kind and was always there when you needed him. Anthony was taken by police to the hospital’s emergency department after a suicide note was discovered at his home. Family members and members of the police department warned the hospital personnel that Anthony had plans to end his life and desperately needed emergency medical and psychiatric treatment. Anthony never got the treatment he so badly needed. Without seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist, Anthony was released from the emergency department with no follow-up treatment plan and took his own life three days later.
A common myth about suicide malpractice cases is that the patient’s death was inevitable even with proper medical management and counseling. With proper medical and psychiatric treatment, Anthony would likely be alive today.
Accessible mental health care would positively impact susceptible individuals who suffer from suicidal tendencies. Legislation could make health care mandatory for people who need it, profoundly helping them, as well as limiting or regulating access to the firearms which are involved in the leading method of suicide.
Mr. Fisher has established a scholarship in the amount of $2,000 to be awarded to a student interested in these issues. Applicants should discuss how legislation addressing U.S. health care and/or access to firearms could help prevent suicide.
The Microsoft Disability Scholarship will be awarded to promising high school seniors with disabilities who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and target a career in the technology industry.
The NBCC Foundation Rural Scholarship (Master’s) are $8,000 awards for rural students enrolled in a CACREP accredited master’s program in return for a work commitment.
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and varying partners are proud to offer COVID-19 emergency financial assistance to students attending one of TMCF’s 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Students selected will receive an emergency award of up to $1,000 for the 2021-2022 academic school year. Funding is intended to allow students to meet their needs and continue their education. Funding is available until the funds are exhausted or until the end of the summer term 2021, whichever comes first.
Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults. Through our presence in more than 1,000 high school and college campuses, communities, and workplaces, and with a wide-reaching public audience, Active Minds is creating communities of support and saving lives. Founded in 2003 by Alison Malmon after the tragic suicide of her brother, Brian, Active Minds is dedicated to supporting a new generation in ending the silence, helping to make mental health as highly valued as physical health. We approach our work with a racial equity lens and are committed to the continued process of being and becoming a more anti-racist and inclusive organization. Through our many programs, we are changing social norms and behaviors related to mental health across the country.
BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service, facilitating over 5,000,000 video sessions, voice calls, chats and messages every month. We set out on a mission to make sure everyone has easy, affordable, and private access to high-quality therapy. Since 2013, over 30,000 licensed, accredited, and board-certified therapists from BetterHelp’s network have helped more than 2,000,000 people face life’s challenges and improve their mental health.
