Mental health access and use are full of stigma and the notion that “if you can’t do it alone, it means you are weak.” It is well beyond time that we challenge this idea that we should “pull ourselves up by the bootstraps” and do the hard, frequently seemingly impossible, work of healing alone. We’re not meant to do this alone. We can’t do this alone. This is one of the many calls to action at the Phoenix Rising Centers. We are tired of seeing those historically excluded struggle and suffer alone.

We call this Mental Health Redefined because we see mental health access as a fundamental human right— not merely for those who have always had access and privilege, but for those who have not, namely, LGBTQ+, QtPoC, other Black and Brown people, those who are neurodivergent, living with disabilities and others who have been historically excluded.

We are here to redefine what it means to get help. At Phoenix Rising Centers, we believe getting help is an act of Bravery (yes, with a capital B). We know it takes a REAL warrior to do this hard work of facing the most painful and challenging things in our life: our trauma(s), our pain, and our individual and collective suffering. We believe that no one should do it alone anymore and we are here to help.

Redefining Mental Health is about undoing White Supremacy.

How? Because it is the White/European culture that brought this idea of rugged individualism. This needs to shift. There is so much to embrace from collectivist culture. Having the value and support to work together within our communities and systems and ensuring those in need have access to the best possible services makes us mentally robust and healthy, not only as an individual but as a society as a whole. It’s true, and we are the sum of our parts. But, together, we are more robust, and doing it alone is no longer a viable, sustainable, or desirable option.

Mental Health Redefined.

Typically, mental health supports are for those with access and wealth. Not surprisingly, our first Black president helped to close this gap by implementing The Affordable Care Act, AKA Obamacare. But still, there’s White Supremacy, which calls a person weak if they need help. So, we are working to redefine what it means to ask for help. And we are redefining what it means to provide mental health services. A big part of what we do is take insurance and centralize care for those who utilize Medicaid insurance. We will never be that place that only takes out of pocket or charges people an unreasonable amount of money for those who need it to get help.

Phoenix Rising Centers is redefining mental health care by providing it to those who have historically struggled to find it. Whether it’s trying to find a provider who looks like you or shares some of your most impactful lived experiences, it has not been easy; this is especially true for Black and Brown people living in America. This country has an obvious access issue, and mental health providers are typically from the most privileged groups— White/European Americans, able-bodied, heterosexual, and cisgender. FACTS: In 2015, 86 percent of psychologists in the U.S. workforce were White, 5 percent were Asian, 5 percent were Hispanic, 4 percent were black/African-American, and 1 percent were multiracial or from other racial/ethnic groups. This is less diverse than the U.S. population, which is 62 percent white and 38 percent racial/ethnic minority (3).

Phoenix Rising Centers is dedicated to making mental health accessible to ALL and highlighting and centralizing mental health care FOR and BY the communities we serve. We have decided to take a step forward and Redefine Mental Health as something much more inclusive in response to the needs of our communities. Our commitment is to continue to improve mental health treatment and outcomes for those who have been historically excluded.