When You Need Help
Having a serious mental illness (SMI) can interfere with family, work life, schooling, and relationships. It can make a person feel extreme sadness and a severe loss as to what they should do and where they fit in the world.
Untreated mental illness will lead to a steady — and often rapid — decline in mental health. Mental illness will not go away on its own, and the longer it persists, the harder it will be to combat.
Just like you need a doctor to treat a physical health condition, you may need experts to help you cope with and overcome mental illness. There is no shame in having a behavioral or mental health disorder, and people can indeed recover. While there has been an antiquated view to shun those suffering, the stigma surrounding mental illness is disappearing. Over the last few years, dozens of performers, celebrities, famous athletes, politicians, and even major executives have begun speaking openly about mental illness – and more important, their actions to address their conditions head on.
If you or a loved one have recently been diagnosed with an SMI — or are grappling with mental health issues — it’s important to know there are many organizations such as Southwest Network that can help. It’s also important to know that you are not alone. Per the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), in 2020:
21% of adults (52.9 million people) experienced mental illness (1 in 5 adults).
5.6 of adults (14.2 million people) experienced serious mental illness (1 in 20 adults).
Once you learn more about mental illness, you’ll understand that anyone can have it. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, and nothing to hide. In fact, our members find it very empowering to recognize it, talk about it, and share their stories, while learning ways to manage and cope that they never thought possible. And they grow to find resilience and purpose to feel happy and productive. Read our featured success stories (H.E.R.O. stories) for inspiration.
The hardest part is reaching out and accepting help. If you or a loved one is suffering, contact us today and we can help you get on track to get the services and treatment you need.
For assistance: If you would like to receive behavioral health services, please call 602.304.0014 and we will assist you. If you are already enrolled with Southwest Network, please contact the location where you are receiving services.