Let's Stop Dancing Around Mental Health Conversations

Walt’s Waltz is a mental-health nonprofit in the Upstate of South Carolina dedicated to ending stigma, reducing suffering, and empowering lives through Education, Equity, and Stigma-Free environments. We were founded after losing my son, Walt, to suicide in 2019. Two days later, his younger brother Will said, “Mom, we will start a movement. If we save one life, it will all be worth it.” That moment has guided every part of our work since.

Our focus is on increasing mental-health literacy, helping people understand what they’re experiencing, and giving communities simple tools that make honest conversations possible. We partner with schools, community centers, universities, healthcare sites, workplaces, and local organizations. Our programs include mental-health education; Painting Mental Health Workshops (English and Spanish); storytelling and arts integration; wellbeing presentations; community events; Self-Care Kits and coping tools; the intergenerational Community Cookbook; and more than twenty-five Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environments across the Upstate.

Our butterfly mascot has become a gentle, recognizable sign of safety. When people see our butterfly, we want them to know they’re in a space where they can breathe, speak freely, and find support. As requests for programs continue to grow, including from Spanish-speaking families, we must strengthen our structure, build sustainability, and increase visibility so we can continue meeting community needs without overwhelming our small team.

At the heart of Walt’s Waltz are our three steps: Education, Equity, and Stigma-Free. We educate to improve understanding and help people see mental health the same way they see physical health. We fight for equity in care and research so every community has access to real support and clear information. And we work every day to create stigma-free spaces marked by our butterfly—with hope to save lives, one safe conversation at a time.

You can find out more at www.waltswaltz.com and please feel free to text susan@waltswaltz.com or call at 864.477.8660.

Checks can be mailed to: Walt's Waltz 120 Saint Augustine Dr. Greenville, SC 29615

Please take care.

With gratitude, hope, and love,

Susan and the entire Walt's Waltz Team!

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