Our blog

Sometimes mental illness feels like nothing can help and that life won’t ever get any better. We recently received the following from Sue Twombley, the originator of our Summit Mt. Washington hike and a long-time Hike for Mental Health supporter. A few months ago, my psychiatric nurse practitioner suggested I try Ketamine therapy. I was going through a…

It is that time of year when many of us finally have some time to pick up a book and read for pleasure. School is out, summer vacations are underway, and there seems to be more time for leisure activities. While we may have more time for reading this summer, and thus increase our enjoyment,…

Introduction You may have seen in the news lately that psychedelic therapy has emerged as a promising approach for treating mental illnesses, especially those that often resist conventional treatments. Substances such as psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, and Ayahuasca are being studied in carefully controlled clinical settings for conditions including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety,…

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! If you have been reading this blog for the past few years you know that every May we write an article focusing on Mental Health Awareness. You can read some of the articles here and here. This year we thought we would share HIKE for Mental Health’s (HFMH) Year-in-Review, focusing on how…

What is new in the field of mental health? We are a few months into 2026 and organizations are starting to publish mental health research findings from 2025. It is a good time to review some of these findings and current trends.

There are many different types of mental health care providers. Did you ever wonder how they differ, and which one may be right for you? Mental health care is a broad field with many kinds of professionals trained to support emotional, psychological, and behavioral wellness. Choosing the right provider depends on your needs, the type…

Lately I have been seeing a lot of information on the mental health benefits of grandchildren-grandparent relationships. I see the joy being a grandparent brings my sister, and how much her grandchildren love being around her and her husband. So is it just my observations or are there real mental health benefits to these relationships…

While we are still enjoying the beginning of 2026, and with many still thinking about goals or resolutions for the new year, we wanted to share some of the top apps and podcasts that focus on mental health. These resources can be excellent tools for support and self-care, and while they are not a substitute…

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2026! Do you have any New Year’s resolutions or plans this year? Maybe you read our recent post about travel and want to explore more of our beautiful country? Or perhaps you will be working remotely and have an opportunity to travel abroad? Will 2026 bring about a new job…

The History Of First Day Hikes First Day Hikes began in 1992 in Massachusetts. The concept was created by Patrick Flynn, the former supervisor for the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Milton, Massachusetts just outside of Boston. He developed First Day Hikes as a way to get people into the parks during the…

Did you know that travel can improve mental health? Yes, you read that right! Even though travel often gets pitched as a luxury experience, it doesn’t have to be. More importantly, research increasingly shows that travel isn’t just good for sightseeing or adventure, it can also deliver real, measurable benefits for mental health. Studies across…