Rachel's Story
Rachel has lived in an apartment in her community for a number a years. She has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, but she has managed to control her symptoms. She sees her doctor, meets with her psychologist, and practices activities in her life that help her manage her illness.
One of the important activities in which Rachel participates is her local community support program (CSP) and its drop-in center. The drop-in center provides social recreation that helps Rachel avoid isolation. Without supportive friends and family members, the drop-in center provides Rachel a social bridge to others in the community.
Recently, the drop-in center reduced its hours due to a lack of funds. She worried about what will happen to her if medical services are the only mental health services available. She realized that her mental health problems will become worse if she loses her social supports. Rachel called MHAM and explained how crucial her CSP is in her journey of recovery.
MHAM uses the stories of people like Rachel to help policy makers and service providers understand that preventive services are important to people with mental illnesses. They provide the support need to remain independent and living in the community of one’s choice. While funding is still difficult to find for CSPs and other community supports, MHAM continues to share stories and fight for changes in how community supports are funded in Minnesota.
