SeizingPsych was co-founded by mother and daughter team Nickole and Kristan after learning what it means to support a loved one living with a serious mental illness. They learned firsthand the financial, social, and structural challenges that families face following a psychiatric diagnosis. When Nickole and Kristan decided that families shouldn't have to experience mental illness alone, resources and funding should be accessible, and families and individuals should have autonomy and understand how to advocate for themselves within the medical system, SeizingPsych was founded.
SeizingPsych, Inc., is a nonprofit charitable organization assisting in-need individuals and families living with severe mental illness through grants in times of financial crisis, and facilitation of resources, educational materials, and related services. This programming focuses on recovery and helping people gain and live independent lives. We also offer free, interactive, advocacy, and educational programs to encourage community awareness regarding severe mental illnesses. By initiating engaging discussions in the community about mental health and illness we aim to minimize stigma and empower community members to join our call to action.
Programming Includes
Crisis Grants:
Assists individuals and families via financial grants with expenses including but not limited to psychiatric and medical expenses, household, utility, and daily necessity expense relief on an as-needed, individually assessed basis.
Nationwide Caregiver Support Group:
This group is facilitated virtually once a month to provide caregivers of loved ones with serious mental illness and/or psychosis with a safe place for support and resources. These 90-minute sessions are open to all questions, experiences, insights, and suggestions from attendees living across the country, and boasts both support from fellow caregivers as well as access to the resident SeizingPsych peer advocate, as well as clinicians, parents, and siblings.
Adopt-A-Family Holiday Campaign:
Each year we adopt 1 or more families experiencing hardship due to the financial strain of living with a mental illness. Families provide wishlists for children and caregivers and SeizingPsych in collaboration with local businesses and generous donors fill the list and deliver the items to the families for the holiday.
Survival Kit Campaign:
Create and distribute survival kits containing water bottles, granola bars, fruit, sunscreen, wet wipes, Band-Aids and seasonal essentials to be distributed to people experiencing houselessness.
Mental Health Education and Awareness:
Interactive educational programs and presentations delivered to community organizations, schools, first responders, and practitioners to reduce stigma and advance awareness regarding mental health and wellness, mental illnesses, advocacy, treatment, and recovery among other topics.