COEUR d'ALENE - The Kootenai County Mental Health Court celebrated its 10-year anniversary Thursday, and Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke participated in the celebration.

Judge John Mitchell, who runs the court with Magistrate Judge Scott Wayman, told the filled Kootenai County First District courtroom that he would not be addressing them during the anniversary event. Instead, he turned to face Jordan Fox, the most recent of the court's 84 graduates.

"You are the reason why we do this court," Mitchell said. "You've demonstrated why we do what we do."

Participants in the specialized court, the majority of whom were arrested for possession of a controlled substance, attend court weekly to meet with a judge. They are also required to meet with their probation officer weekly, be frequently and randomly tested for drugs and alcohol, and must be employed or in school prior to graduation.

According to mental health court coordinator Mary Wolfinger, the court aims to "hold defendants accountable and assists them in achieving long-term stability with mental illness and substance addiction, become law-abiding citizens, and become successful family and community members."

Prior to any graduation, Mitchell said, he takes a detailed look at the participant's history and path through the court. For Fox, that journey began when he started using substances as a 7-year-old.

In 2008, Fox was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and his trial was heard by Mitchell.

After some time, Fox received a positive mental health diagnosis and entered the mental health court. That's when he began to turn his life around.

Mitchell said he was impressed with the courage Fox showed in sharing his story during his commencement speech last week.

During the speech, Mitchell said Fox spoke of how strength and perseverance paid off for him. He echoed those sentiments on Thursday while briefly addressing the current participants of the program.

"All you've got to do is stay clean. Everything else falls into place," Fox said. "I know it's frustrating and hard. But you'll make it if you want to."

Academy Award-winning actress and Kootenai County resident Patty Duke spoke to the crowded courtroom about her own battles with mental health. She said she kept running away from her problems and self-medicating with alcohol.

"I was little Patty Duke on television," Duke said. "But away from that I was a drunk who would wake up every morning next to someone I didn't know. I hit rock-bottom."

Duke said she eventually began facing her issues and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Through medication and therapy, she was able to begin walking the road to recovery.

"It was no miracle and it didn't happen overnight," Duke said. "But it happened pretty fast."

When she heard about the Kootenai County court program, Duke said she was grateful that people were paying attention to the issues for which she has spent a large portion of her life advocating. She added that she was humbled to get to do what she does and grateful to have the opportunity to hear from Fox and others.

"I didn't expect to be so moved by your fight, your willingness to get healthy," Duke said. "God bless you all and thank you. I am so proud to live in a county where this kind of insight and foresight is happening."