WELCOME TO
MIREILLE WELLNESS CLINIC

PURPOSE STATEMENT

The purpose of Mireille Wellness Clinic is to address the growing need for compassionate, specialized behavioral health and recovery services for women in Arizona by providing a safe, structured, and supportive environment designed specifically for their experiences and needs. Women facing mental health challenges, substance use disorders, trauma, and related hardships often encounter barriers to treatment and may struggle to access care that fully understands the complexities of their circumstances. In Arizona, nearly one in four women report experiencing frequent mental distress, and substance-related deaths among women ages 20–44 have increased significantly in recent years, reflecting a critical need for expanded behavioral health support for women across the state (America’s Health Rankings, 2024; America’s Health Rankings, 2023). These realities highlight the importance of creating environments where women can receive care that prioritizes dignity, safety, and long-term stability.

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Mireille Mukiza created Women's Facility because the need for compassionate, specialized care for women facing mental health and substance use challenges in Arizona is both real and urgent. In Arizona, nearly 25% of women ages 18–44 report experiencing frequent mental distress, and approximately 12.8% of women report illicit drug use, highlighting the growing behavioral health needs among women in the state. At the same time, substance-related deaths among women in Arizona have increased significantly in recent years, with drug-related deaths rising more than 50% among women ages 20–44 in recent reporting periods.  These numbers tell a deeper story: thousands of women are navigating depression, trauma, addiction, and instability while still trying to care for families, maintain employment, and survive environments that often do not provide the support they need.

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The situation becomes even more concerning when looking at maternal health and substance use. In Arizona, nearly half of pregnancy-associated deaths were linked to mental health conditions or substance use disorders, and experts found that almost all of these deaths were preventable with proper intervention and care(Arizona Department of Health Services) . These findings reveal a gap not only in treatment availability, but in the type of treatment environments available to women. Many women struggling with behavioral health and substance use also have histories of trauma, violence, or instability, which makes the design of treatment environments critically important. Research shows that women experiencing substance use disorders often have high rates of trauma and mental health needs, emphasizing the importance of trauma-informed care designed specifically for women (PMC).

Arizona also faces additional challenges that intersect with behavioral health issues, including human trafficking and exploitation. Reports examining trafficking victims in the state have found that about 45% of victims had a history of substance use, demonstrating the close relationship between addiction, trauma, and exploitation(goyff.az.gov). Women who have experienced trafficking, abuse, or trauma often require environments where they feel safe, protected, and understood—something that mixed-gender treatment settings do not always provide. For this reason, many experts emphasize the value of single-gender facilities, where women can heal without fear, stigma, or retraumatization.

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Mireille recognized this gap and set out to build something intentional: a place where women could receive care designed specifically for them. Mireille Wellness Clinic Women's Facility was created to serve women facing behavioral health challenges, substance use disorders, and related trauma in an environment centered on dignity, safety, and recovery. The facility was strategically planned in an area where access to care is critical and where services can reach the women who need them most—located near the I-17 and Peoria corridor, an area that allows the clinic to provide support within a region experiencing significant behavioral health needs.

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But the clinic is more than a facility—it is a response to a reality that cannot be ignored. Mireille believes that when women are given the right support, healing becomes possible. When a woman regains stability, it does not stop with her; it reaches her children, her family, and her community.

Mireille Wellness Clinic was developed to help close this gap by offering women-focused services that recognize the intersection of mental health, substance use, trauma, and social challenges that many women face. Research indicates that women with substance use disorders frequently experience higher rates of trauma and co-occurring mental health conditions, making gender-responsive and trauma-informed care especially important for successful recovery (Greene et al., 2023). Additionally, Arizona reports that nearly half of pregnancy-associated deaths involve mental health conditions or substance use, underscoring the urgent need for accessible treatment and supportive interventions for women (Arizona Department of Health Services, 2022). By establishing a dedicated facility for women in a region where behavioral health services are needed, Mireille Wellness Clinic seeks to provide comprehensive care that supports healing, recovery, and long-term well-being while contributing to stronger families and healthier communities.

 

Mireille Wellness Clinic exists to provide that opportunity—to meet women where they are, to walk beside them through recovery, and to remind them that their story is not over. It is simply waiting for a new chapter to begin.

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References

• (America’s Health Rankings) America’s Health Rankings. Health of Women and Children Report – Arizona.

• (America’s Health Rankings) America’s Health Rankings. Drug Deaths Among Women Ages 20–44 in Arizona.

• (Arizona Department of Health Services) Arizona Department of Health Services. Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use-Related Deaths in Arizona.

• (goyff.az.gov) Arizona Governor’s Youth Commission. Child Sex Trafficking Report.

• (PMC) Greene et al. (2023). Trauma Experience Among Women with Substance Use Disorders.

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