There is a lot of media attention being paid to the opioid addiction crisis we’re currently facing in this country. And with good reason. In 2017, more than 130 people died each day from opioid-related drug overdoses. That’s more than 47,000 people. That’s more than the number of people who died from breast cancer. That’s…
A Call for Action on World Mental Health Day
Cyber-bullying… technological overload… high-tech isolation… violent and realistic video games. And these are only some of the challenges facing our youth today. Add to that, the fact that globally, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents, and you can see why the theme for this year’s World Mental Health…
If You See Something… Say Something
Two celebrity suicides made news recently. It’s a tragedy. Even more of a tragedy is that the rate of suicide is growing in this country. And whenever a well known celebrity suffers from this fate, the news media brings the issue into our collective consciousness for a brief moment and gives us the opportunity to…
Mental Health Awareness Month: A Note from Our Executive Director
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Given what we do at CHOICE, I’m not sure how much more aware we could be… in fact, we are painfully aware of the sheer numbers of Americans who are out there struggling day in and day out with mental health issues. And these issues vary in scale from…
On Stigma: Words from the Heart
Today, we offer up some words from the heart by our friend Nancy Palagano. We thank her for continuing to share her voyage with us. Feel free to contact her through The Lotus Healing Project on Facebook… The degree to which we fall prey to susceptibility is the degree to which we suffer from stigma….
Groups Going Strong in 2018: Get On Board With Us
Our latest schedule of both Socialization and World of Work groups is underway for the new year. We hope you’ll join us as we continue to add both the frequency and the diversity of our group activities. Cardio Drumming In Socialization Groups, we’ve added a cool, fun, hip new CARDIO DrumFIT Group. It’s been a…
The Power of Language & Mental Health: Guest Blog
We reprint this with permission from our friends at The Kim Foundation. When someone breaks an arm, they are rushed to the emergency room. The doctor who treats the injury will assess the damage and most likely cast the arm for healing to take place. A few months later, the cast will be removed. Life…
Letters from Prison – A Poem for Suicide Prevention Month
To commemorate National Suicide Prevention Month (September), one of our Intake Administrator’s, Elisia Dones, opened up her journal titled, “Letters from Prison,” to share an excerpt with us. May it give you pause and a moment to stop and think about the value of each and every human life around you. Exerpt from “Letters from…
Innovative Job Training Program Launches
We are proud to introduce an innovative program designed to create opportunities for employment for those struggling with mental health issues. Working hand-in-hand with Dwight Reyes, owner of CBM Cleaning, Inc., we recently launched a Custodial Technician Certification Program that will result in employment for CHOICE clients and steady small business support for CBM. Committed…
Become a CHOICE Ambassador for Dignity
Did you know not only is there a stigma associated with mental illness but there is also a stigma about donating to mental health charities and organizations? The mental health organization that raises the most funds still only raises about ten cents on the dollar compared to the American Cancer Society. Why is that? It’s…