MISSION STATEMENT
The Dr. Brandt Foundation is dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being
of diverse and underserved communities.
OUR STORY
The Dr. Brandt Foundation was established in 2015, in loving memory of the late Dr. Fredric Brandt, who took his own life following a severe, largely silent struggle with depression. In his honor, the Foundation works to destigmatize conversations around mental health so that no one is afraid to seek help, while providing national awareness and mental health support to those in need.
Dr. Brandt was known for his wit, sense of humor, and seemingly endless empathy for others. Highly respected in his field and beloved by patients, colleagues, and friends, his outward appearance made it difficult to perceive the full extent of his struggle, even for those closest to him. By speaking openly about issues like anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention, the Foundation hopes to bring mental health issues into the light, ending silent suffering, and giving hope to those who are struggling. In doing so, we honor the memory of Dr. Brandt as a tireless advocate for well-being.
“Every day when I wake up, I want to improve my life, my work and the world.”
—Dr. Brandt
AGE-DEFYING EXFOLIATOR, WITH A HEART
With every unit sold, Dr. Brandt Skincare® will donate $1 to the Dr. Brandt Foundation to support mental health programs.
EVERY DAY APPROXIMATELY
123 AMERICANS DIE BY SUICIDE.
THERE IS ONE DEATH BY SUICIDE IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY 12 MINUTES.
OUR IMPACT:
S P E A K E R S E R I E S
Despite increased public awareness around mental health issues, lingering stigma, especially in under-represented communities, means many still avoid discussing their personal struggles openly.
The Dr. Brandt Foundation’s #SayILoveYou speaker series strategically aims to create safe spaces for frank discussions about mental health. The Foundation invites high-profile individuals, mental health professionals and diverse community voices to discuss issues, share lived experiences and resources for support in order to normalize and destigmatize mental health challenges.
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OUR IMPACT:
The Dr. Brandt Foundation is pleased to partner with Pet Partners, the nation’s largest and most prestigious nonprofit registering handlers of multiple species as volunteer teams providing animal-assisted interventions. For more information about Pet Partners and how you could become a registered therapy animal team, visit www.petpartners.org
HEALING PAWS
The Dr. Brandt Foundation is proud to be at the forefront of innovation and holistic methods of healing. Our youth are facing mental health challenges in record numbers today and for children in complex social situations, as well as those who have experienced trauma, abuse, or been diagnosed with autism, the risk of developing a mental disorder is significantly higher than the average.
Starting with our local community here in Miami, the Dr. Brandt Foundation is proud to offer certified animal-assisted therapy for at-risk youth in:
• Miami-Dade County Public Schools
• Juvenile Detention Centers
• Foster Care/Group Homes
Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) takes a unique, holistic approach to improving mental wellness and functioning. While still an emerging field, multiple studies demonstrate that the experience of bonding with animals can be extremely therapeutic, reducing feelings of anxiety, isolation, and hostility while improving social-emotional development. These positive findings are backed by a systematic review of 24 studies examining the use of AAI with at-risk youth. For vulnerable or troubled children and adolescents, AAI offers a less traditional form of mental health intervention that can promote feelings of calm, connection, and safety within a professional therapeutic framework.
OUR IMPACT:
EACH YEAR, AN ESTIMATED 1 IN 5 U.S. CHILDREN EXPERIENCE A MENTAL, EMOTIONAL OR BEHAVIORAL DISORDER, INCLUDING ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS.
70.4% OF YOUTH IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVE A DIAGNOSED MENTAL ILLNESS.
OF THE 400,000-PLUS CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE IN AMERICA, IT’S ESTIMATED THAT NEARLY 80 PERCENT SUFFER FROM A SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.