Why You Deserve Care That Respects You
You are not too broken. You are not too much. You are not a burden—you are a human being who deserves personal care that says: I see you. I respect you. I walk with you.
Navigating mental health or substance use can feel isolating, especially when the care you receive makes you feel more like a diagnosis than a person. This article explores why respectful caregiving isn’t just a luxury—it’s a right. You’ll learn how to recognize respectful treatment, what to do when you’re not getting it, and why your voice matters in your healing process.
Why You Deserve Care That Respects You
If you’ve ever felt dismissed, judged, or invisible in a healthcare setting—you're not alone. Young adults between 18 and 30 are often navigating a unique reality: early independence, career and identity pressures, social and financial stress, and sometimes, mental health or substance use challenges. Yet far too often, the care offered doesn’t meet people where they are—it talks down, labels, or assumes. That’s not just wrong. It’s harmful.
At Phoenix Group Foundation, we believe that care should honor your humanity, not minimize it. Here’s why you deserve better—and how to know if you’re getting it.
Respect Is Not Optional in Healthcare—It’s Foundational
Respect in care means being:
Listened to without judgment
Given real choices about your treatment
Spoken to like an equal—not a problem to fix
Seen as more than your diagnosis or circumstance
This is especially critical in mental health and substance use care, where stigma and misunderstanding can create barriers to recovery. According to a 2023 study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), nearly 1 in 3 young adults with a mental health condition say they avoided seeking help due to fear of judgment or past negative experiences with providers.¹ That’s not a failure on your part. That’s a failure of the system to offer respectful, trauma-informed care.
What Does Respectful Care Look Like?
Here’s how to spot care that actually respects you:
You’re part of the conversation. Good providers co-create plans with you, not for you.
They explain things clearly. You’re not left in the dark about meds, diagnoses, or next steps.
They don’t rush. You feel heard, not hurried.
They ask what you want to work on. Your goals—not theirs—shape the process.
They see your potential. Not just your pain.
When Care Isn’t Respectful: What You Can Do
You have the right to:
Speak up: Say, “I don’t feel heard,” or “That approach doesn’t work for me.”
Switch providers: If someone makes you feel unsafe, unseen, or disrespected, seek out a different provider.
Bring support: Friends, parents, or colleagues can help you feel safe when navigating tough conversations.
Know your rights: Learn what protections you have under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and patient bill of rights in your state.
You Deserve Dignity in Every Step of Healing
Healing is hard enough. The last thing you need is to feel judged while doing it. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, substance use, or just trying to understand your brain and body—respectful care isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.
And if you’ve had bad experiences in the past, we’re sorry. That shouldn’t have happened to you. But we also want you to know there are providers and communities that get it—and they’re out there waiting to show you a better way.
At Phoenix Group Foundation, we’re building a future where everyone gets care that centers dignity, equity, compassion, and hope. Because you're not a file number or a label—you’re a whole person with a whole life ahead of you.
You deserve care that respects you.
Have you ever felt disrespected or dismissed by someone who was supposed to help you heal?
You’re not alone—and it’s not okay.
At Phoenix Group Foundation, we believe care should feel safe, affirming, and human. If your experience with the mental health system made you feel like “just a diagnosis,” we want to hear from you. 📥 Share your story with us anonymously if you’d like. Your voice helps others feel seen, heard, and empowered to demand care that respects them too.
