Antoinette, 57, has experienced mental health challenges for as long as she can remember, and after 30 years of struggling, officially received a bipolar diagnosis. Following the loss of her mother and her home, she was continually depressed. Her sister, whom Antoinette calls her biggest fan and supporter, told her that she had lost her smile. That is when Antoinette knew she needed to seek professional help. She checked herself into the hospital for treatment, and after some time there, she was approached with an opportunity to speak with Legacy Treatment Services' staff from our Crosswinds Peer Respite Program.

After feeling lost and hopeless from everything she had been through, Antoinette was elated at the opportunity to continue her treatment and receive the housing that she so desperately needed through Legacy's care. Within five days of learning about the program, Antoinette was stably placed in housing and began receiving quality mental health treatment through Legacy Treatment Services.

Legacy's Crosswinds program provides adults with severe and persistent mental illness an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization through a therapeutic community-based residential setting. There, Antoinette was able to receive the appropriate therapy and resources to bring her smile back.

"Crosswinds has saved my life… If I didn't have Legacy, I don't know what I would have done," she shares.

Antoinette explains that the staff at Crosswinds are there to support her no matter what kind of day she is having and have been an integral part of her path to recovery. Since beginning her journey, Antoinette has been journaling as a means of healthily coping with her trauma and diagnosis. She describes it as, "working on me for the first time in my life."

Antoinette is pleased to say that after three months of being in Legacy's care, with help from Crosswinds staff, she was successfully placed in her own apartment. We are so proud of Antoinette, and everything she has done to transform herself in order to go from simply surviving to actually thriving! Best of luck to Antoinette as she continues on her journey.