Mental health services are always trying to keep up with the ever-changing world of healthcare. With more people needing help with different types of mental health issues, the complexity of dealing with insurance, the US healthcare system and the ineffectiveness of traditional treatments like antidepressants, patients are not getting the care they need. Mental health services in the United States are at an all-time high, but it can be hard to know where to start, especially when people mistake mental illness as being a personal flaw. That's where Axis Integrated Mental Health comes in. In addition to bridging this gap, this outpatient clinic is revolutionizing the way mental health care is delivered.
According to statistics, 1 in 5 adults are living with a mental health condition in the United States. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of these adults receive the treatment they need. Many people in the US don't have access to the right mental health services, and traditional treatments like antidepressants don't work as well as they should, with only 38% of people finding them effective as a treatment. In fact, 79% of antidepressant medications are prescribed by doctors who are not mental health specialists and may not even be necessary for the patient. That's why more and more people are turning to alternative mental health care solutions.
Liesl Perez, a corporate marketing and crisis management specialist, and her husband Christopher Perez, an experienced CRNA, identified this shortcoming of the current system. As parents looking for mental health treatment for their child, they found themselves lost and disillusioned with the system in place. Rather than continuing to search, they embarked on a journey to establish their own solution and redefine patient care for mental health. Discussing the inspiration behind the clinic, Axis Integrated Mental Health, Liesl Perez reflects, "My husband and I came to realize that what we were facing was something that thousands every day were also dealing with. It was from this experience that we realized we could make a tremendous impact by combining our diverse skills and bringing a fresh, personalized perspective to an industrialized healthcare landscape."
Liesl & Christopher Perez, Founders of Axis Intergrated Mental Health
The fundamental tenet of their philosophy is that mental health treatment should be available to all, regardless of one's background, race or financial situation. This principle is reflected in their policy of accepting Medicaid insurance, hiring a diverse staff and tailoring mental health care to patients to where they are in their journey.
Axis Integrated Mental Health continues beyond providing just conventional treatments. They have carved a unique path known as the "Axis Way." This comprehensive approach to mental health care involves a more in-depth examination of the patient's individual requirements. Their intake process, which takes approximately one hour, is devoted to gaining insight into the patient's experience, enabling them to create a tailored mental health plan that covers both mental and physical health. Chris speaks passionately about their mission, stating, "We’ve seen first-hand how difficult it can be to access mental health care, and we want our patients’ primary focus when they’re in our care. We want to eradicate the stigma associated with mental health and create a future where everyone can receive the care they deserve."
The clinic's 30-minute follow-up consultations along with their knowledge of alternative treatmments, set a new benchmark in a society where 15-minute medication management appointments are the norm. This extended follow-up allows the team to really get to know the patient and make sure they receive the best care possible.
Axis Integrated Mental Health provides Spravato,TMS and ketamine infusions for rapid relief from chronic depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The clinic works closely with patients to determine which treatment is right for them and coordinate coverage with health insurance providers. They want to help their patients focus on recovery in an optimized healing environment which differentiates the clinic from other mental health clinics.
In addition to these therapies, Axis Integrated Mental Health also offers medication management. It can be tough to figure out how to manage prescriptions, since people's bodies, genes, and lifestyle can all have a big impact on how they take them. But with medication management, they make sure the treatment plan is working and can be changed if needed.
Axis Intergrated Mental Health business logo
Both Liesl and Christopher, as parents, understand that mental health support isn't just for the people who need it, it's for their families too. Cody, a patient at Axis discusses his journey at Axis as a ‘Sanctuary’, “I’d neglected empathy because of my defense mechanisms and hypervigilance which drove almost every aspect of my day-to-day life. But when I go into these treatments and I’m thinking about an experience I want to focus on, even if it’s a little bit raw to me, I’m led to an area of empathy. That's because empathy is a two-way street - you don't want to have it, but you can find it, feel it, and experience it. It's been really weird and uncomfortable for me, but it's changed the way I interact with everyone from the cashier at the grocery store to the people at work, my ex-girlfriend, and my mom.”
Liesl Perez states, "This isn't just a business for us; it's a movement. We wanted to actively give back to the community." Axis Integrated Mental Health sponsors older foster kids and gives them mental health care for the next decade. Plus, they’ve made a commitment to fund $100,000 of TMS treatments for people with Medicaid, making sure that financial constraints don't hinder individuals from receiving the best and most innovative care they need.
Axis Integrated Mental Health’s vision for the future is as bold as it is necessary. They want to grow their presence and influence in the mental health space. They want to be the standard of care. Christopher Perez shares their vision for the future: "Our journey has just begun. We want to continue expanding our services and reach out to even more people. We aim to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health issues and bring about a brighter and healthier future for all."
Media Contact:
Name: Liesl Perez
Email: [email protected]
