Securing Adolescent Mental Health Resources with NAMI

PHOENIX — At 25, Corinn Cook had never experienced mental health issues. However, one day at work she began to suffer a severe anxiety attack and realized something was wrong.

“I felt myself floating out of my body,” she said. “It stunned me, it terrified me, I didn’t realize what was happening to me at the time and because it happened at my job, I lost my job because of it .”

Instead of talking about it, Cook remained silent. She knew she probably needed help, but she didn’t get it out of fear of what others might think or say. She said she felt very isolated.

“I felt more shame and more guilt for having this mental illness,” she said. “I didn’t know where to go, I felt so alone, I used substances like alcohol to cope. It was the only thing at that time that made me feel better. I felt so alone , isolated, I was so ashamed that I didn’t want to be called “crazy”. I didn’t want to take medication every day for the rest of my life, and I just wanted to be “normal”. what this could mean.

Fast forward to today, Cook is thriving. She says it’s because during the darkest days, she chose to end her silence and get help. Now it’s a message she’s sharing with local youth as part of the National Alliance on Mental Health’s (NAMI) Valley of the Sun.

“I have had the honor of being involved with NAMI since 2019,” she said. “I want to spread joy and awareness and hope in the community, and I think for me the main reason why it’s so important that we go and share our stories is because I never had that when I was in middle school and high school when I first suffered from mental illness, I had no idea what I was going through, it was a very, very terrifying ordeal for me, I thought. felt so isolated and so alone.

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NAMI Valley of the Sun is a local nonprofit organization that provides free education and resources to youth experiencing mental health issues. This includes ADHD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, etc. They also travel to middle and high schools across the Valley to talk about mental health awareness with students. The programs help them understand warning signs, mental health issues, and most importantly, they encourage their peers to seek help.

“One in six people live with mental illness,” said Kristina Sabetta, executive director of NAMI. “Yet, of those who have been diagnosed with a mental health problem or are struggling with a mental health problem, only half receive treatment.”

Sabetta says that in addition to young people not knowing where to find resources, children remain silent because of the stigma surrounding mental health. That’s one of the reasons why NAMI launched a program called “Ending the Silence” five years ago.

“We are ending the silence,” she said. “We talk about mental health, we talk about suicide. This phenomenon is real, common and treatable. A lot of the stigma is generational because parents don’t understand what our young people are facing, what they’re dealing with. we go through. As parents, we need to be equipped with the tools we need to support them.

The most important part of the Ending the Silence program is the presentation of a person who has been diagnosed with mental illness. Sabetta says it’s important to include their story so students can see for themselves what it’s like. In some cases, it can change their perception of what it really means to live with a mental illness.

“They learn they’re not alone,” she said. “They listen to real stories and find hope. The presenters inspire other young people to reach out and get help. Ultimately, we save lives. This is how we end poverty. stigmatization by giving hope and inspiring people to get the help they deserve. It is considered a sign of weakness to ask for help, but it should be seen as a sign of strength.

That’s why Cook chooses to share her story, because if it can help one student, it’s worth it. Every time she goes to a school, she sees the difference it makes and the lives it saves. She also says that if she could tell herself one thing at 25, it’s that she’s worth it. Cook says that’s the same message she has for others.

“She’s worth investing in herself, she’s worth fighting for,” she said. “Don’t make a permanent decision over a temporary problem because I was about to do it myself. Hope still exists, reach out, get help and don’t be afraid. You are worthy of it and you are the light.”

If you would like more information about NAMI Valley of the Sun and the resources they can provide (they are free), go here.

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