Get Help

Connecting with a healthcare professional or mental health support system can be an essential first step in addressing mental illness for you or a loved one. However, for those navigating marginalized identities, it’s important to be careful about how you access support, as these systems can embody the same biases experienced elsewhere. For example, LGBTQ+ elders are less likely to engage in the mainstream healthcare system due to experiences of discrimination despite being more likely to face illness, and some research has shown that African-American primary care patients are less likely to feel supported by their doctors. 

In Philadelphia, some mental health organizations that prioritize individuals with marginalized identities include:

The Ladipo Group, who focus on healing Black, Brown and African American individuals

Mazzoni Center, who focus on the LGBTQ+ community; and

MTR Therapy, who focus on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals

In substance abuse recovery, some support groups that prioritize individuals with marginalized identities include:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), is accessible to speakers of about 20 languages (including ASL), and has groups supporting individuals who are blind / visually impaired, deaf / hard of hearing. AA also has groups centering the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, seniors, and women. 

Recovery Dharma, is accessible to speakers of about 2 languages, and has groups centering the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, women and non-binary persons, BIPOC persons, BIPOC women, and seniors. 

SMART Recovery, is accessible to speakers of about 3 languages, and has groups centering the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and active military. 

Most of these resources provide free resources, a sliding scale, and/or take insurance.

However, one Gateway to getting to see a healthcare professional is to enter an FDA approved research study for your mental health problem.  Just as research studies conducted by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson were the key to discovering, testing, and make available the COVID vaccine 2 individuals around the world, The Center for Emotional Fitness consults clinical research studies on anxiety, depression, opiate addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.  The advantages of a research study are as follows:

No insurance is necessary;

Because your time, is valuable you are reimbursed for every visit-usually $75-$100;

You will receive an accurate diagnosis;

Once the study is over, you are provided with up to 5 no cost visits with board-certified psychiatrists, Dr. Leon and Jake Rosenberg;

You will be transitioned to a local psychiatrist, community mental health center, or to your primary care physician who will be informed of what has worked so that you can continue your road to recovery.