Cheryl Long

Mental Health Consumer Advocate

Cheryl brings a deeply personal and compassionate voice to Phoenix Group Foundation. As a mother who has walked the long, painful road of trying to help a loved one through mental illness and addiction, she understands the gaps in the system—and the power of real support. Now retired, Cheryl channels her lived experience into advocacy, offering hope, empathy, and guidance to other families navigating similar struggles.

I have lived in Washington State most of my life. I love the outdoors, so Washington is the perfect place for me.Family is very important to me. I have been a single parent so know the challenges that it presents. I have also been a stepmom. My husband and I raised a blended family of six children.

I also worked out of the home and enjoyed a successful career of thirty years. I wont's say there weren't some challenges juggling family and work, but we managed as many families do.

I have enjoyed some volunteer work through my church. I also have been known to foster dogs through a rescue organization. Usually strays I have come across myself. Now that I am retired, I enjoy the outdoors, working in my yard, walking and of course my grandchildren.

I am looking forward to being a part of Phoenix Group Foundation to help people with mental illness and drug addiction. This cause is very close to my heart. I have a son with a mental illness who has a history of drug addiction. If in some way my son's and my journey can help someone else, I feel honored.

This is our story…

My best advice for someone trying to get help for their loved one with a mental illness and/or drug addiction is, don't try it on your own.

I know. I tried for several years (through the system) on my own  to get help for my son with a mental illness and drug addiction. There are some good people working in the system but the system itself is tragically broken.

I tried countless times to convince my son to get help. Putting him up in hotel rooms with his promise to go to rehab. Taking him to rehab only to have him leave. At which point my son was basically homeless and living on the streets.

My situation was compounded by a no contact order I was forced to put into place. My son's behavior became so erratic, that he would come into the house when I was gone and take things. He also violated the no contact order which then put him (us) into the criminal court system.

This started a revolving door of him living in and out of jail and on the streets. A court ordered stay at Western State Hospital is where we finally received a diagnosis of Schizophrenia. My son also actually believed that he was not sick (a symptom of his disease called Anosognosia). But when he was stable in the view of the hospital, he was simply released, and he went back to living on the streets. This led to additional and far too numerous contacts with law enforcement. This went on for several years.

My turning point was when I learned my son was sitting on a sidewalk in the middle of winter without proper clothing or shelter.

I heard about Raymond Ferrero. I contacted him and things started to change. He intervened on my behalf with the system. His goal was to help me to help my son, and he did.

Today, my son is receiving treatment, off the streets and living on his own. Without Ray's help I don't know if my son would be alive today.

Again, my best advice is to not try it on your own. Reach out for help and support.