A July poll by the Kaiser Family foundation showed 53% of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus. This is significantly higher than the 32% reported in March. A local organization is trying to help people in a small way.

Arizona’s Alexandria Rizik is a poet, actress, director, and children’s book author, and now the founder of the company Save a Soul, Save the World. Rizik came up with Warriors For Recovery, a name she says signifies the hard work people go through to not only fight mental illness or addiction but the stigma against them.  

“I think people just need to remember they’re not alone and tomorrow’s a new day," Rizik said.

The virtual fitness event will be led by Ryan Read, a personal trainer 

“You know a lot of people are struggling right now and we really want to give someone a chance to really change their life," Read said.

Rizik’s sister, Julia, who will be playing music, says she hopes bringing events like these to the community will help those with mental illness or addiction feel not as alone. Arizona health officials are worried about an increase in drug overdoses during the pandemic, although they won’t say if there is a direct link. 

“Somebody very close to me passed away a few years ago, he had an overdose. And Alexandria went through all of that with me. So this one really kind of hits home for me," Julia Rizik said. 

Alexandria Rizik’s goal is to raise enough money to provide a 30-day stay scholarship for a local recovery center to someone who could otherwise not afford rehab.