Joshua’s sudden death of a brain hemorrhage at the age of just 23, led me into a downward spiral of addiction as I struggled to cope with my grief. Founded in loving memory of my brother, the Joshua Levi Foundation aims to be a rock for people who feel locked in by their mental health.

Unable to process my feelings when my brother passed, I turned to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain. I pushed my family and friends away. My mental health deteriorated and my physical health began to suffer. As my dependence grew, the emotional relief got further out of reach.

Depression, grief and substance abuse closed the door on a world I thought was better off without me. When I got behind the wheel of my car and drove it at 100 miles an hour into a solid barrier, I wanted everything to end. The car didn’t survive the impact, but I escaped with minor injuries.

I was referred to talking therapy with a psychologist. At first, I felt alone in my bereavement, depression, anger and denial.  I attended group therapies, where I found conversations with strangers helped me open up without fear of burdening the people I loved in their own grief. While everyone’s trauma or loss is unique, I learned we can suffer similar feelings of isolation, depression, helplessness and anxiety.

The road to recovery in mental health is not a linear journey. But it becomes easier to navigate when you are able express how you are feeling, in a safe environment.

It can be hard to ask for help when you feel trapped inside your own head. As I moved further along my own path through grief, substance abuse and mental health recovery, I began thinking about other people at the beginning of their journey.

With help, I’ve learned how to live a more positive, healthier and resilient life with a grief that will always be a part of me. The Joshua Levi Foundation provides mental health support to people from Day One. If that’s you, or someone you love, we want to be there for you.