PHOENIX — At 25-years-old, Corinn Cook, had never experienced any mental health issues. However, one day at work she began experiencing a severe anxiety attack and realized something was wrong.
"I felt myself float out of my body," she said. "It floored 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 went silent. She knew she probably needed help but didn't get it for fear of what others may think or say. She says she felt very isolated.
"I felt more shame and more guilt about having this mental illness," she said. "Not knowing where to go, feel so alone I used substances like alcohol to cope. It was the only thing at the moment that made me feel better. I felt so alone, isolated, I felt so ashamed I didn't want to be labeled as 'crazy.' I didn't want to take medication every day for the rest of my life, and I just wanted to be "normal" whatever that might mean."
Fast forward to today, Cook is thriving. She says it's because during the darkest of days she chose to end her own silence and get help. It's now a message she shares with local youth as part of the National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) Valley of the Sun.
"I've had the honor of being involved with NAMI since 2019," she said. "I want to spread joy, awareness and hope to the community, and I think for me the number one reason why it's so important we go in and share our stories is because I never had that when I was in Junior High and High School. When I was experiencing mental illness for the first time, I had no idea what I was experiencing which was a very, very terrifying ordeal for me. I felt so isolated and so alone."
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NAMI Valley of the Sun is a local nonprofit that offers free education and resources to youth experiencing mental health conditions. This includes ADHD, Bi-Polar Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, etc. They also go into Junior High and High Schools in the Valley to talk about mental health awareness with students. The programs help them understand the early warning signs, what mental health conditions there are and most importantly, it encourages peers to reach out for help.
"One in six people are living with mental illness," NAMI Executive Director, Kristina Sabetta said. "Yet those who've been diagnosed with a mental health condition or who are struggling with a mental health condition, only half are getting treatment."
Sabetta says in addition to youth not knowing where to find resources, kids are staying silent because of the stigma surrounding mental health. It's one of the reasons why five years ago, NAMI began a program called 'End the Silence.'
"We're ending the silence," she said. "We're talking about mental health; we're talking about suicide. This stuff is real, it's common and it's treatable. A lot of the stigma is generational because parents don't understand what our youth are dealing with, what they're going through. As parents we need to be equipped with the tools we need to help support them."
The biggest part of the 'End the Silence' program is a presentation from someone who's been diagnosed with a mental health illness. Sabetta says it's important to include their story so students can see firsthand what it's like. In some cases, it may change their perception of what it's really like to live with a mental health illness.
"They're learning they're not alone," she said. "They're hearing real stories, and they find hope. The presenters are inspiring other youth to reach out and get help. At the end of the day, we're saving lives. That's how we remove the stigma providing hope and getting people to get the help they deserve. It's seen as a sign of weakness to reach out for help but it should be seen as a sign of strength."
It's why Cook chooses to share her story, because if she can help one student it's worthwhile. Each time she goes into a school she sees the difference it's making and the lives it's saving. She also says if she could tell her 25-year-old self one thing it's that she's worth it. Cook says it's the same message she has for others.
"She's worth investing in herself, she's worth the struggle," she said. "Don't make a permanent decision to a temporary problem because I was very close to doing that myself. Hope always exists, reach out, get help and do not be scared. You're worthy and you're the light."
If you'd like more information about NAMI Valley of the Sun and the resources they can provide (they're free), go here.
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