The Scatter Joy Project is a creative mental health 501(c)3 nonprofit built on the belief that creativity is mental health care.
We are reimagining mental health through creativity and community, exploring the ways art, self-expression, and shared experiences can help us better understand ourselves and connect with one another.
We believe art gives us language for feelings we can’t name yet. It helps us make sense of experiences, express emotions, challenge perspectives, and recognize parts of ourselves in the stories of others. Community gives us somewhere to bring those feelings, where we can find connection, belonging, and a sense of being understood. Together, creativity and community offer meaningful ways to care for our mental health and each other.
We draw inspiration from generations of artists, organizers, and movements that have used creativity as a catalyst for cultural change.
Throughout history, artists have helped us make sense of the world around us by telling stories, challenging accepted narratives, and giving visibility to experiences that might otherwise go unheard.
There is a responsibility in making art to reflect the times we live in, to tell the truth about what we’re experiencing, and to create opportunities for others to see the world differently. Because you cannot have a meaningful conversation about mental health without also examining the systems, inequalities, and cultural conditions that shape our lives. Our work is informed by this history and the belief that creativity has a role in both personal well-being and collective change.
Our approach is grounded in the belief that mental health is something we shape together. The communities we build, the spaces we create, the stories we share, and the ways we show up for one another all influence our collective well-being.
We know that access to care also means addressing the social and systemic conditions that affect people’s ability to live healthy, connected lives. We want to help build a world where creativity is recognized as an essential part of mental health, where community is treated as a foundation for care, and where people have more opportunities to express themselves, find belonging, and access the support they deserve.
This is the future we’re working toward, and we believe we can create it together.
there is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
battle a diagnosed mental illness, not including people who struggle with generalized anxiety or depression
of the 52 million Americans diagnosed with a mental illness do not receive care they need and deserve
Americans died by suicide in 2022 with an estimated 1.6 million suicide attempts
of young adults suffer high rates of both loneliness, anxiety & depression, showing significant symptoms
Did you know that 52 million Americans (1 in 5 adults) battle a diagnosed mental illness along with the countless others who fight in silence? The most staggering statistic, 54% of those 52 million do not receive the care or treatment they deserve.
Scatter Joy, Inc is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization in the U.S. You’ll receive your tax-deductible receipt via email.
