Support Critical Mental Health Services This Year End

Written by Bart Magee, Ph.D.

I heard recently from Hunter Dreidame, a friend and Access Institute supporter. He told me this:    

"Throughout my adult life, I've been afraid to seek out therapy, not because of any stigma around it, but because of its cost: it is very expensive and, short of a mental breakdown, I couldn't justify the hundreds or thousands of dollars it costs to regularly see a mental health professional. I'm finally making enough where I feel comfortable paying the money necessary to see a therapist, and I’m now blessed to have generous coverage. Thanks to this benefit, I've been speaking with a therapist regularly. It has been an incredibly eye-opening and fulfilling experience, and I intend to continue this self-exploration and personal unpacking for as long as I'm able.”  

Hunter went on to say that his recent experience in therapy made him even more grateful for the work that we do at Access Institute to ensure therapy is affordable to those without the kind of means and benefits that he is privileged to have. This inspired Hunter to act. He organized a giving campaign at his workplace last month and supported it with matching funds. So far he has raised more than $15,000 for Access Institute.  

I share this story with you, as many of you have shared similar stories with me, experiences which I know have inspired your generosity as well. It’s through this kind of generosity that Access Institute continues to thrive. Every day, this makes a difference for so many who have no other option to get the mental health care they need. 

Over the past year, hundreds of people have relied on the comprehensive mental health services that Access Institute provides, including crisis support, assessment, medication, case management and ongoing therapy. Over 13,000 sessions of service have supported people living on the edge psychologically and economically. We provide them with high-quality care, the kind usually available only to those with much greater financial means, and we do it all for free or at affordable sliding-scale rates. In therapy, our clients are healing from psychological traumas, recovering from depression, managing serious mental illnesses or coping with COVID stress and fatigue. They are building hope for their futures.  
​
Access Institute will continue to do more to meet the mental health needs of our community with your support. We hope that you, like Hunter, will be inspired to contribute our work this year with a tax-deductible, year-end gift. Giving the gift of mental health care to someone in need is more important and meaningful this year than ever before.  

Thank you for joining us in our mission of providing quality mental health services to children, families, and individuals of all ages. Together, we can provide the healing and the hope our community needs.

Warm regards,

Bart Magee, Ph.D.
Founder & Executive Director