Ohioan Joe Hall is walking across America to spread awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.

This the second time the 42-year-old is making a trek like this as part of his nonprofit organization Hall Across the country’s mission.

“Obviously we know it’s very stigmatized,” Hall said. “It’s hard for people to feel confident in opening up about the things that are going on in their heads.”

Each day, he aims to walk at least 15 miles while pushing his supplies with him. Along the way, he camps where he’s allowed and if he can’t find place, he’ll stop for a hotel or hostel.

As he meets people along the way, he shares his journey with mental health.

“I’m very open about sharing my story because I can’t ask people to open up about what’s going on with them, if I’m not willing to do the same,” he said.

Hall said he’s struggled with mental health, overcoming two suicide attempts, and is still working on himself today.

He uses the walk as an opportunity to connect with and inspire others in the process.

“It’s that thought, the idea that I want to keep people from getting to that point,” Hall said. “You know, because I’ve been there and if I had gone through with it, I never would have experienced a lot of the really great things in my life.”

His goal is to walk through 48 states and their capital cities to help spread awareness.

He started this journey last May in Ohio, but had to briefly pause after several life events prevented him from walking.

“I had a month off when my father passed,” he said. “I got back on the road and then I had to have emergency surgery last year.”

After starting back up in April, he said he thinks it will take him at least two-and-a-half more years to finish. He said knowing he can help others keeps him moving forward not just on the walk, but in life as well.

“For a long time, I didn’t feel like I had any reason to be alive and I don’t want anybody else to ever feel like that,” Hall said.

The walk is funded by donors and people can donate at www.hallacrossthecountry.com.

Hall said he also accepts in-kind donations.