Meridian Member Story
Ongoing Support Helps Sarah Make Meaningful
Progress In Her Mental Health Journey
Meridian member Sarah*, an 18‑year‑old college theatre major, manages several mental health conditions, including attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and major depressive disorder. She joined Meridian’s R.E.A.C.H. program, which helps young members with depression in developing self-management plans for their mental health conditions by pairing resources and skill-building activities with traditional therapy. Although Sarah was passionate about school and performance, she found herself struggling with daily tasks. When she completed her initial Patient Health Questionnaire‑9 (PHQ‑9), she scored an 18—indicating moderately severe depression and difficulty across nearly every area assessed.
Sarah began working with her Meridian care manager, Catharine (RN), who took the time to understand how deeply Sarah’s symptoms were affecting her overall well‑being. Sarah shared that she was experiencing intense mood swings, fatigue, poor appetite, and trouble focusing, all of which were interfering with her health and her studies. She was seeing a therapist weekly and a psychiatrist monthly but still needed help bringing structure and self‑management skills into her day‑to‑day life.
Together, Catharine and Sarah developed goals for an individualized care plan, including implementing strategies learned in treatment such as identifying her triggers and using existing coping skills more effectively. Also, addressing her desire to quit smoking. With her care manager’s ongoing support and consistent check‑ins, Sarah started to recognize the patterns in her moods and found healthier ways to navigate stressful moments.
Two months later during a follow‑up assessment, Sarah completed her third PHQ‑9. This time, she scored an impressive 4, showing significant improvement and demonstrating the hard work she had put into her own progress. She proudly shared that she had stopped smoking, felt healthier and more energetic, and—perhaps most exciting—had landed a vital role in a play she auditioned for.
Today, Sarah remains active in the R.E.A.C.H. program to maintain her improved outcomes and care. With her Meridian care manager by her side, she continues working toward her individualized care plan goals and building the tools she needs to stay healthy and continue thriving.
*Member name was changed for privacy reasons
