Why I Created SAM

Mental illness doesn’t just affect one person—it affects entire families.

I know this firsthand. My father, Sam, struggled with mental illness, and the challenges placed on our family were overwhelming. We never knew what to expect from day to day. His illness created an atmosphere of unpredictability, and over the years, we lost most of our extended family and many friends. It was isolating, heartbreaking, and at times, outright frightening.

Looking back, I realize that my entire family—my father included—would have benefited tremendously from access to safe, trusted mental health experts. But at the time, support was hard to come by, and we didn’t have the resources to afford consistent therapy.

Over the decades, we’ve made great progress in talking about mental illness—something that was rarely discussed in the past. Years ago, mental health challenges were often hidden or ignored, but today, conversations about mental illness are more open than ever. This is an important step forward, but it’s not enough. Now, we need to move beyond just talking. Now, we need to act.

That’s why I created Support and Assistance for Mental Health (SAM). I want to make sure that other families don’t have to go through what we did without the help they desperately need. Mental illness isn’t just an individual’s struggle; it’s a family’s struggle. It touches everyone, and the effects can be devastating when families don’t have the support they need to cope, heal, and thrive together.

50% of people who need therapy don’t get it because they can’t afford it. This statistic is staggering, and it’s one I’m committed to changing—with your help. No family should have to suffer in silence or watch a loved one battle mental illness without professional help simply because they can’t afford therapy.

While other organizations focus on raising awareness and funding much-needed research, SAM is the only charity that directly pays for therapy. We ensure that individuals and their families can access life-changing mental health care without the financial burden. We are here—not just to offer help, but to offer hope. Through fundraising and support, we aim to make therapy accessible to those who need it most, ensuring that no family is left to struggle alone.

Together, we can break down the barriers that prevent families from getting the help they deserve.