Who We Serve
We serve individuals 14 years and older who live with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. Many of our clients also face barriers to reaching their optimal health, including medical conditions, chronic homelessness, isolation, unemployment, poverty, and substance use disorder. In fact, half of our clients have a co-occurring disorder, which means they cope with a medical condition or substance use disorder in addition to mental illness.
Mental illness is common—1 in 4 adults live with it. At Guild, we believe this is nothing to be ashamed of. We also believe it shouldn’t be a barrier to finding safety, security, and community. Which is why our services help individuals find quality mental health services, stable housing, and competitive employment in the community of their choosing.
We work with people with serious mental illness at all stages of their journey, whether they are currently experiencing a crisis, or have achieved stability and are using Guild services to maintain their health. The experience of mental illness is not linear and varies for every person. That’s why our services are comprehensive and interconnected—or as one of our clients said, “the glue between the cracks, preventing me from falling.”
Eligibility varies by service. To discuss which services are the right fit for you or your loved one, call Community Access at (651) 925-8490.
Nick
“I believe they care about me, and that gives me hope.”
“The team helps me stay stable. I’m strong both physically and mentally. I’m more assertive and can tell people what I want or need from them.”
“Guild has shown me how much you can grow with the right people pushing you.”
Zaheeda
“I like my positive life. I’m proud of how tough I am, what I’ve come through, and what I’ve been able to achieve.”
“Guild services give you a lot of tools to use. Guild shows you how to get help from the community. They also make sure I get my medications and go to my psychiatrist and my psychotherapist. Stuff that I never knew before, I get to know.”
“I like to go out and see what’s happening in the world. I want to see the light.”
Eli
“The drug court program therapist referred me to Julie Carr from Guild for employment services. This is the first time I had gotten the help that I really needed. My experience with Guild started with employment services, but very quickly it became so much more. The services started with finding me a job, but then it became about advancing my life so I could get the career I wanted. Not just a job. Julie helped me with anything I needed. She was, and still is, my life coach.”
“Julie visited me in prison. I honestly thought that she would give up on me, but she didn’t. Julie helped me learn how to track my bills and insurance, to make sure it wouldn’t lapse again. She genuinely cares about me.”
“Without Julie and Guild, I wouldn’t be standing here today. I wouldn’t be working. I would still be using drugs. I would be in prison, or worse. I don’t hide from my pain and mental illness anymore. I’m not afraid to confront my issues. I have hopes and dreams for the future. Because of Guild, my future is bright, and the hamster wheel is no longer part of my life.”
Ari
“My Guild team stood with me through it all. They were the glue between the cracks, preventing me from falling.”
“I had to accept that I needed help to recover. I needed help navigating the mental health system. I was referred to Guild in 2003 while at inpatient treatment at Regions Hospital. Coming to Guild was the first thing that helped me start the recovery process.”
“Everyone I’ve worked with from Guild, for the past 17 years, has been the same: supportive, safe, and caring. My team at Guild were like having a ‘mental health sponsor’ to help me navigate through the barriers of life.”
Larry
“The team encouraged me to consider Guild’s Intensive Residential Treatment program. I went to the program for 90 days. The structure and attending support groups regularly really helped.”
“If it wasn’t for Guild, I’d be homeless, and homelessness tends to make my mental illness more intense. More than that, I can look back now and understand. I know my illness isn’t my fault. I’m 61 years old, and I’m content. There’s very few times in my life I’ve been able to say that. Instead of feeling overlooked, today, I feel recognized for the person that I am.”