About Us

Our Founder’s Journey

In 2022, our founder and president Joe Hall embarked on a transformative cross-country journey—walking 3,176 miles from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware to Ocean Beach, San Francisco over seven months. This pilgrimage served as both a mental health advocacy campaign and a fundraiser for behavioral health services at Children’s Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, honoring a friend’s son who died by suicide in 2020 at age sixteen.

Along this remarkable journey, Joe connected with countless individuals affected by mental health challenges—from those battling depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia to people experiencing suicidal thoughts and families grieving loved ones lost to suicide. These profound encounters revealed the power of personal connection and inspired our organization’s commitment to sharing stories that foster understanding and healing.

Birth of a Movement

After completing his cross-country journey, Joe sought to extend his mental health advocacy work, leading to the official establishment of Hall Across the Country as a nonprofit—inspired by encouragement from friends who witnessed the impact of his mission.

Our ambitious next chapter began May 15, 2024, with a comprehensive journey across all 48 contiguous states. This expedition has three core objectives:

Creating platforms for individuals to courageously share their stories of mental health struggles, triumphs, and losses—building a supportive community that uplifts one another.

2. Meeting with lawmakers at each state capital to discuss mental health challenges facing their constituents.

3. Connecting with mental health providers to gather effective strategies for managing mental health conditions.