May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and thousands of Mainers are in need of care.
Miners are known for being very independent;It is an important mineral for reducing the stigma associated with seeking support and professional help. We all need help sometimes, and it’s okay to admit that. No one needs a helping hand, or someone to rely on, or even someone to train, to deal with the different emotions, anxieties, and symptoms you’re feeling.
Although we have come a long way, mental health is still not treated on the same footing as physical health, and as a result, people easily fall through the cracks of the system. Last year, Mr. Sweeser provided nearly $1 million in care to individuals and families who needed mental health services and were unable to pay. This included many uninsured and underinsured Mainans.
When dealing with their own mental health challenges and the mental health needs of their children, the number one thing families should consider is the cost of care as a barrier. The focus should be on healing and recovery. No one will be turned away, but we cannot do it alone.
Our nonprofit organization relies on the generosity of our communities to meet growing needs across the state. This includes financial support from individuals, small businesses, corporate partners, civil society organizations and grants.
Sweeser is proud to launch the Mental Health Issues Fund. Together, we can ensure that care is available regardless of someone’s ability to pay. Every family, every child, and every individual in Maine has a right to mental health care. We are establishing this fund to make it easy for anyone with a giving spirit to support fellow Mainers during their most difficult times.
To donate therapy to a Maine family in need, text the word “SWEETSER” to 366283 or visit https://sweetser.ejoinme.org/mentalhealthmatters. For every donation you make, you’ll receive a Mental Health Matters ribbon sticker.
Sweetser’s services reach every corner of the state, serving more than 14,000 individuals last year alone. In some areas where the need is greatest, services for children are the focus. Programs like School-Based Youth Mental Health Therapy, which has clinicians on more than 100 school campuses, lose money every year. In fact, our organization is on track to lose well over $1 million this year and will have to subsidize this care to stay afloat. It is not sustainable without further support. Programs like this will have the biggest impact on tackling the youth mental health crisis we are experiencing. We can help students and their families access therapy at school.
Your support fuels our mission to bring treatment, support, and hope to Mainers most in need in our community. The mental health of your friends, family, and neighbors matters. Your mental health matters.
Justin Chenette is Sweeter’s Senior Director of Public Relations and Outreach. The company provides evidence-based treatment, support and hope through a statewide network of community-based mental health, recovery and education services. For more information, please visit www.Sweetser.org.
