Why Create Phoenix Group Foundation?
Every movement starts with a reason—Phoenix Group Foundation began with the urgent need to rewrite the broken story of mental health and substance use care in America.
Phoenix Group Foundation was born from a simple but powerful realization: the behavioral health system is failing, and people are dying because of it. This article explores the facts that compelled the creation of a bold, independent organization focused on real change—and why the time to act is now.
Why Create Phoenix Group Foundation
There’s a crisis quietly unfolding across the country—one that's taken far too many lives and shattered countless families. Mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs) are not isolated issues. They are public health emergencies affecting millions, yet the systems designed to support recovery are deeply fractured, underfunded, and often inaccessible.
Phoenix Group Foundation was created to change that. Here’s why.
1. The Statistics Tell a Grim Story
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults lives with a mental illness. For young adults ages 18–25, that number climbs even higher: 1 in 3 report symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The CDC reports that 1 in 7 young adults (18–25) meets the criteria for a substance use disorder.
Suicide remains the second leading cause of death among people aged 10–34, per the National Center for Health Statistics.
Despite these staggering numbers, less than half of those affected receive treatment. For Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those without financial means, access is even more limited.
2. A Broken System Cannot Heal Broken People
Phoenix Group Foundation was created by advocates, clinicians, and changemakers who saw firsthand how the behavioral health system is failing:
Families turned away from treatment centers due to lack of insurance or beds.
Young people trapped in cycles of emergency rooms, jails, or homelessness—without sustained support.
Overwhelmed caregivers navigating an uncoordinated maze of services.
This system isn’t just inefficient—it’s dangerous. Fragmented care leads to missed diagnoses, poor follow-up, and tragic outcomes.
3. We Refuse to Wait for Government Solutions
Unlike many nonprofits, Phoenix Group Foundation does not rely on government grants. Why? Because the urgency of this crisis cannot wait on bureaucracy. Instead, we are building a movement fueled by private philanthropy, social enterprise, and bold innovation.
Our mission includes:
Merlin’s Mission: Centers of Excellence—therapeutic, community-based care models tailored for young adults.
Mental health literacy programs for families, communities, and schools.
Policy advocacy that centers the voices of those most affected.
4. We Are Centered on People, Not Paperwork
We believe in healing-centered engagement—not red tape.
Phoenix Group Foundation centers lived experience, cultural relevance, and dignity. We support solutions that work in the real world—not just on spreadsheets.
5. It’s Personal. It’s Urgent. And It’s Possible.
This isn’t just about statistics. It’s about the 22-year-old who didn’t survive the waitlist. The mother who called ten rehabs and got no answer. The brother, the friend, the neighbor.
