Top Mental Health Scholarships for Students (Updated June 2025)
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Tammurra Hamilton Legacy Scholarship
Funded byTam’s Beautiful ButterfliesThis scholarship aims to honor Tammurra Hamilton's legacy of prioritizing her education by supporting both high school and college students pursuing higher education.- Education Level: High school senior, undergraduate, or trade school student
- State: Illinois
$3,105Only 12 days left!One Click Apply1Sewing Seeds: Lena B. Davis Memorial Scholarship
Funded byNekia DavisThis scholarship aims to support underrepresented students.- Education Level: High school or four-year undergraduate student
- GPA: 3.0 or higher
- Identity: Underrepresented minority
$1,070Only 25 days left!One Click Apply2Annika Clarisse Memorial Scholarship
Funded byEyzaguirre Transgender Youth Education FundThis scholarship aims to honor Cesar’s life by supporting transgender students who are pursuing higher education despite the obstacles they are facing.- Education Level: High school or undergraduate student
- Identity: Transgender
- Background: Financial need
$1,200Only 13 days left!One Click Apply3David L. Burns Memorial Scholarship
Funded byBurnsThis scholarship will support undergraduate students from Missouri who are pursuing a career in helping people who have struggled with addiction.- Education Level: Undergraduate
- State: Missouri
- Major: Nursing, counseling, mental health, social work, etc.
$3,000Deadline:Aug 30, 2025One Click Apply4Hue Ta Asian American Scholarship
Funded byTuan TaThis scholarship seeks to celebrate and empower young leaders who are championing mental health and disability rights within the Asian American community and beyond.- Education Level: Undergraduate student
- Race: Asian American
- Background: Volunteering experience
- Field of Study: Mental health
$1,000Deadline:Aug 11, 2025One Click Apply5Jackanow Suicide Awareness Scholarship
Funded byMax JackanowThis scholarship aims to support students who have lost someone to ease the burden of continuing college after the loss.- Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student
- Background: Has lost a loved one to suicide
- School: University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or Grand Canyon University
$5,710Only 14 days left!One Click Apply6Jim Coots Scholarship
Funded byBecky Coots-KimbleyThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Jim Coots by supporting students who want to help people heal naturally.- Education Level: High school or undergraduate student
- Field of Study: Holistic health and natural healing
$1,900Only 14 days left!One Click Apply7Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
Funded byCalvin RosserThe Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship is designed to inspire greater awareness about mental health and fuel innovative solutions that help the millions of people who are suffering.All students are eligible$500Only 14 days left!One Click Apply8Viaje de Esperanza Scholarship
Funded byDaniel and Marisa WandelerThis scholarship will be awarded to one graduate student who is interested in pursuing or is currently pursuing a degree that will lead them to a profession dealing with mental health in the Latinx community.- Career of interest: Mental health services for the Latinx community
- City of Study: El Paso, TX, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Denver, Colorado
- Ethnicity: Identify as Latinx
$14,887Only 28 days left!One Click Apply9Arnetha V. Bishop Memorial Scholarship
Funded byAustin/Bishop FamilyThis scholarship will support BIPOC students pursuing a career in the mental health field.- Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student
- Race/Ethnicity: BIPOC
- Major/Field: Mental health related
- GPA: 2.5 or higher
$500Only 29 days left!One Click Apply10Kids’ Minds Matter: Southwest Florida Continued Education Scholarship
Funded byLee Health FoundationSupports students in LMHC or LCSW programs at Florida Gulf Coast University who are committed to pediatric mental health and interested in working with Lee Health in Southwest Florida.- Current School: Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)
- Career Field: Pediatric Mental Health
- Current Degree Program: LMHC or LCSW
- Regional Affinity: Southwest Florida
$20,000Only 29 days left!One Click Apply11LGBTQ+ Wellness in Action Scholarship
Funded byLive it UpThis scholarship aims to support and empower LGBTQ+ students who exemplify the importance of self-care and well-being.- Education Level: High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student
- Citizenship Status: U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
- Identity: LGBTQ+
- Background: Strives to maintain mental and physical health
$1,000Deadline:Jul 29, 2025One Click Apply12Gone & Here Annual Scholarship
Funded byGone & HereThis scholarship aims to uplift the youth and raise awareness of mental health crises by supporting students who have lost a sibling due to suicide.- Education Level: Currently in school or planning to go back
- Age: 18-35 years old
- State: California
- Background: Has experienced the loss of a sibling due to suicide
$1,000Deadline:Jul 29, 2025One Click Apply13Women’s Health Research & Innovation Scholarship
Funded byJosh Adams and Lynn O'BrienThis scholarship aims to empower students who are passionate about making a difference in the field of women’s health.- Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student
- Field of Study: Medicine, medical devices, mental health, biomedical engineering, etc.
- Goal: Support research, new tests, treatments, and product development in support of women's health
$2,000Deadline:Aug 01, 202514Akilli's House Autism Support Scholarship
Funded byAkilli's HouseThis scholarship seeks to support students who are dedicating their careers to uplifting those with autism so they can overcome any obstacles they face.- Education Level: High school, undergraduate, or graduate student
- Background: Experience interacting with or helping those with autism
- Goals: Plan to work with individuals with autism in their career through speech therapy, applied behavior analysis, occupational therapy, or special education
- State: Alabama
$1,000Deadline:Aug 01, 2025One Click Apply15Chandler Wall Memorial Scholarship
Funded byWallThis scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Chandler Wall by supporting students who share his commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.- Education Level: Undergraduate student at a four-year university
- Field of Study: Social work or mental health
- State: Arkansas
$11,000Deadline:Aug 01, 2025One Click Apply16Jake Thomas Williams Memorial Scholarship
Funded byWilliams FamilyThis scholarship seeks to honor Jake Thomas Williams’ life by providing support to students who want to make a difference in mental health and suicide prevention.- Education Level: High school senior
- Majors of Interest: Social work, therapy, or psychology
- Career Field of Interest: Mental health or suicide prevention
$1,500Deadline:Aug 15, 2025One Click Apply17RollinOn 3 Kentucky Presents D.B.C. Scholarship
Funded byDerick CantyThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Derick Canty by supporting young adults who have faced mental struggles but are continuing to pursue their dreams.- Education Level: High school senior
- State: Kentucky, Louisiana, or Texas
- Background: Diagnosed with a mental illness
$500Deadline:Aug 25, 2025One Click Apply18Jay Curry Eternal Garden Scholarship
Funded byMichelle RenyThis scholarship aims to support students who are pursuing careers related to landscaping or natural beauty.- Education Level: High school, trade school, undergraduate, or graduate student
- Field of Study: Horticulture, botany, landscaping, or a related field
$1,000Deadline:Sep 24, 202519Online ADHD Diagnosis Mental Health Scholarship for Women
Funded byADHDAdvisor.orgThis scholarship aims to recognize the importance of mental wellness for academic success and personal development by supporting female students who recognize the importance of mental health and prioritize it while attending college.- Education Level: High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student
- Gender: Female-identifying
- Citizenship Status: Citizen or permanent legal resident
$1,000Deadline:Sep 30, 2025One Click Apply20Cade Reddington Be the Light Scholarship
Funded byCade Reddington Memorial FundThis scholarship seeks to honor Cade Reddington’s legacy by supporting students who have been affected by substance use, addiction, or mental health struggles.- State: Wisconsin
- Background: Has been affected by substance use, addiction, or mental health struggles
- Education Level: High school senior, college freshman
$2,000Deadline:Oct 22, 2025One Click Apply21I Can and I Will Scholarship
Funded byKosmond RussellThis scholarship aims to support students who have overcome challenges in order to pursue higher education.- Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
- GPA: 3.5 or higher
- Race/ethnicity: BIPOC
- Background: First-generation student
- Experience: Community or extracurricular activities
- History: Directly or indirectly impacted by a mental or physical disability
$500Deadline:Nov 06, 2025One Click Apply22Deena Collins Memorial Scholarship
Funded byCollinsThis scholarship aims to honor the life of Deena Collins by supporting women who are passionate about using their careers to help others.- Education Level: High school, undergraduate, or graduate student
- Gender: Female-identifying
- Field of Study: Healthcare (including mental health)
- State: Kansas or Nebraska
$3,000Deadline:Dec 05, 2025One Click Apply23Dr. Shuqiao Yao Memorial Scholarship
Funded byShuqiao Excellence AwardThis scholarship aims to honor the life of Dr. Shuqiao by supporting students who are pursuing their ambitions in psychology and psychiatry.- GPA: 3.0 or higher
- Field of Study: Psychology or psychiatry
- Background: Asian
- Education Level: Graduate student
$2,000Deadline:Dec 20, 2025One Click Apply24Elizabeth Schalk Memorial Scholarship
Funded byBrian SchalkThis scholarship will support a student who has been affected by mental illness.- Education Level: High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate
- Background: Affected by mental illness, either personally or in the family
$2,200Deadline:Jan 01, 2026One Click Apply25ADHDAdvisor Scholarship for Health Students
Funded byADHDAdvisor.orgThis scholarship aims to foster an environment of understanding, empathy, and support by supporting the next generation of mental health advocates.- Education Level: High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student
- Background: Committed to helping others through emotional and mental health support
$1,000Deadline:Feb 03, 2026One Click Apply26Ethan To Scholarship
Funded byJustin To & Ann TranThis scholarship aims to honor the memory of Ethan To by raising awareness of mental health struggles and supporting students as they pursue their goals.- Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student
- Financial Status: Low-income
- Field of Study: Psychology and/or counseling
- GPA: Undergraduate 3.5 or Graduate 3.2
$2,000Deadline:Feb 16, 2026One Click Apply27CW4 Savidge Memorial Scholarship
Funded byJennifer RuckerThis scholarship seeks to honor the legacy of CW4 Savidge by shining a light on mental health challenges among active-duty service members and veterans.- Education Level: Undergraduate freshman or sophomore
- Field of Study: Mental health, social work, counseling, or a related field
- Background: ROTC or the armed forces
- GPA: 2.5 GPA or higher
$755Deadline:Apr 05, 2026One Click Apply28Bryent Smothermon PTSD Awareness Scholarship
Funded byBryent SmothermonTo honor the legacy of Bryent Smothermon, this scholarship exists to support military veterans or military family members who have suffered from PTSD.- Background: Military veteran or child of a military veteran
$1,000Deadline:May 14, 2026One Click Apply29Deanna Ellis Memorial Scholarship
Funded byAnina deNobrigaThis scholarship will support a student pursuing a career in helping those with substance abuse issues.- Education Level: High school, undergraduate, or graduate student
- Major/Field: Mental health counseling, healthcare, nursing, or other professions that help those with substance abuse issues
$500Deadline:Jun 28, 2026One Click Apply30
About mental health scholarships
In 2021, the rate of teens experiencing depression increased by 59% since 2007. One in five Americans suffer from some form of mental illness, and more than half of those who live with the impacts of mental illness daily receive no form of treatment.
The majority of mental illnesses begin showing symptoms by age 14, while one-third of young people ages 18 to 25 suffer from some form of mental health condition. A large number of young adults who struggle with their mental health daily are high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.
Mental health scholarships are designed to elevate mental health awareness and fuel innovative solutions to help the millions of college students suffering from mental health issues each year.
Why are mental health scholarships so important?
Mental illness can make it difficult to keep up with daily tasks, especially for students who are juggling the challenges of keeping up with schoolwork on top of their mental health struggles. When it comes to finding ways to fund higher education, it can be extremely difficult for students who struggle with mental health issues to balance finding scholarships with being high school seniors, or undergraduate students, at the same time.
Mental health scholarships have multiple goals. The first is to give financial assistance to students who suffer from some form of mental illness. On a list of the top causes of anxiety among college students, financial anxiety was listed as the second biggest cause of mental health challenges for undergraduate students.
For college students struggling with mental health, it can be difficult to even achieve success on daily homework assignments, let alone the additional stress of looking for multiple jobs or college scholarships to fund their education at the same time.
The second goal of these types of scholarships is to de-stigmatize mental illness and raise awareness of the realities of mental health conditions. By giving those who suffer from mental illness financial funding and support, they can go further in their college education.
The types of mental health scholarships out there
There are many different types of mental health scholarships out there, but some do require you to have a diagnosed mental health condition in order to be eligible. It's important to make sure you meet eligibility requirements before applying.
For a specific diagnosis or condition
There are scholarships intended for those who have experience living with specific mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, etc. For these scholarships, it's crucial that you have the specific mental health diagnosis that the scholarship application lists as a requirement.
For greater awareness
There are scholarships that focus less on a specific mental illness and more on the ability to bring a greater sense of mental health understanding to the general public.
For these scholarships, a specific diagnosis may not be necessary, but they may still ask an essay question about the importance of de-stigmatizing mental illness in society. They may even ask for you to write about what you have done to raise awareness for mental health issues in your college or community.
For aspiring professionals
Lastly, there are also scholarships for those majoring in psychology or pursuing psychiatric degrees. These scholarships are meant to support the future generation of psychologists, therapists, pharmacists, and mental health counselors.
By supporting those studying psychology, these scholarships hope to ensure that more students are supported in their mental health education.
Preparing for graduate studies? Check out these graduate school scholarships today!
How to find mental health scholarships
Often, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to looking for scholarships.
While you could spend a while searching the internet for scholarships that best match your needs, Bold.org has its own huge collection of mental health scholarships listed on its website under the 'mental health' category list. Bold.org's easy-to-use platform matches you with scholarships based on your individualized profile, making the scholarship search fast and easy!
Here's how to get started:
Make a Bold.org profile
To apply to any and all bold.org scholarships, the first step is to make a bold.org profile. Click here to start the process.
When making your profile, input as much about your work, education, and life experience as you can so bold.org can suggest scholarships that are a perfect match for you.
Tips for applying to mental health scholarships
When applying for scholarships, there are plenty of key things you can do to stand out from the competition and increase your chances of winning!
Make sure you qualify
All scholarships have specific requirements you have to meet in order to apply. Make sure your location, identity, education, background, and goals match up exactly with what the application is looking for.
Find scholarships that apply to your personal experiences
Just like all scholarships that require essays, mental health awareness scholarships are looking for students who connect with the application's mission. It's important to make sure your personal experiences align as closely as possible with the application's purpose.
For example, an application may be looking for students who have experience struggling with a specific mental illness, students who are majoring in psychology, students who have experience advocating for greater mental health awareness in their community, or another specific requirement.
To ensure you have the best possible chance of receiving a mental health award, it's crucial that you're eligible for the scholarship based on the application guidelines.
On bold.org, it's easy to search for scholarships that align closest to your experience. The 'Mental Health' scholarship category on bold.org's category list is a compilation of mental health scholarships that are open to applicants with upcoming scholarship deadlines.
Tell your story
For each and every scholarship, make sure that your scholarship essay reflects your own personal experiences dealing with mental illness or elevating awareness in your community.
These scholarships are started by people who genuinely want to support the high school seniors, college students, and undergraduates who have struggled with mental illness in their lives and have persevered through significant challenges.
When writing your personal statement, try your best to convey how dealing with a mental illness has made you the person you are today, and how it's brought you to take action in your life and community.
Some examples of taking action are raising awareness in your community and speaking to others on the challenges faced by those struggling with mental illness and mental health challenges.
Keep applying
Apply to as many scholarships as you can. For most scholarships, there are many applicants applying and the competition can be fierce, so it's never guaranteed that you'll receive a scholarship award. To have the greatest chance of securing the most financial assistance you can from scholarships, you need to apply to as many as possible.
High school seniors specifically have a lot of competition when it comes to applying for scholarships since most high school seniors are anxiously preparing for their college careers. That's why it's best to apply to as many scholarships as you can and to start applying as soon as possible.
Check out these disability scholarships to help you manage the costs of college!
Frequently asked questions about mental health scholarships
Can you get a scholarship for mental health?
Yes! There are so many scholarships dedicated to providing financial assistance to students pursuing higher education, but who also struggle with their mental health.
There are so many scholarships out there, so make sure you look for and apply to scholarships that are specific to you and your mental health journey. Scholarships may look for specific diagnoses or conditions from applicants, so make sure your personal information aligns with application requirements.
How do you qualify for a mental health awareness scholarship?
All scholarships have different application requirements. To know if you're eligible to apply, make sure your information aligns with all of the requirements that the application asks for.
First, look for the educational requirements listed. A scholarship application may ask for you to be in a specific education level, such as being enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or they may ask for a specific grade level, such as requesting applications from high school seniors or college students in their first year.
Some other notable eligibility requirements can be based on your location, GPA, major, age, career goals, personal identity & background, and even personality traits.
Then, look at the specific mental health-related qualifications. Is the application for students with a specific mental disability, diagnosis, or condition? Are they looking for an applicant who plans to study psychology in university and pursue it as a career? Are they looking for a student who has experience advocating for the de-stigmatization of mental wellness conversations in their community? These are the things to look for and make sure apply to you when qualifying for scholarships.
When should you start applying to mental health scholarships?
You should start applying as soon as possible! It's never too early to start applying for the financial assistance that can help you accumulate the least amount of college loan debt possible.
Many mental health scholarships are open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, with most being offered to those at the high school senior or undergraduate level.
Even if you're a high school freshman, it's never too early to start looking for scholarships for the future or even start applying to scholarships that are open to all applicants at the high school level.
Do mental health scholarships need to be paid back?
No, these scholarships never have to be paid back! Scholarships are awards given to students for meeting specific academic achievements or life experiences.
Scholarships are different from federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans, which are supplied by your university and need to be paid back over time. Every scholarship award is a gift to students looking to financially support their education.
Scholarships are a great way for deserving high school and college students to receive additional financial support to fund their higher education. Scholarships are also a great way to minimize the financial burden of college loan debt.
What happens when you win a scholarship?
When you win a scholarship, your financial award goes directly to your university's financial aid office and can be used to pay for a portion of your tuition if you're in an undergraduate program. If you're still in high school and are unsure of where you'll attend college in the future, your scholarship earnings will be saved until you choose a college to attend.
What’s the best website for applying to mental health scholarships?
Bold.org is the best website to search for and apply for scholarships. Bold.org's 'Mental Health' scholarship category makes it fast and easy to search for multiple scholarships that you're eligible for and that are open to receiving applications.
On other online resources such as scholarship sites, you may get redirected to different platforms in order to complete an application essay or submit your information, but on bold.org, the entire scholarship and essay writing process are in the same place.
Not only is it fast and easy to look for and apply to scholarships, but having your own bold.org profile allows you to receive alerts of newly published scholarships that are a match to you and your experience.
Important mental health resources
No matter how things may feel, you are not alone. Here are some important resources to take note of:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line (free, confidential, 24/7): Text HOME to 741-741
- National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrative National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
- National Eating Disorder Association Helpline: 1-800-931-2237
- The Trevor Project Hotline (crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth under 25): 1-866-488-7386
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! There are so many scholarships dedicated to providing financial assistance to students pursuing higher education, but who also struggle with their mental health. There are so many scholarships out there, so make sure you look for and apply to scholarships that are specific to you and your mental health journey. Scholarships may look for specific diagnoses or conditions from applicants, so make sure your personal information aligns with application requirements.
All scholarships have different application requirements. To know if you're eligible to apply, make sure your information aligns with all of the requirements that the application asks for. First, look for the educational requirements listed. A scholarship application may ask for you to be in a specific education level, such as being enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or they may ask for a specific grade level, such as requesting applications from high school seniors or college students in their first year.
You should start applying as soon as possible! It's never too early to start applying for the financial assistance that can help you accumulate the least amount of college loan debt possible. Many mental health scholarships are open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, with most being offered to those at the high school senior or undergraduate level.