Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc.
(Publication Archives)

Community Connections, Spring 2003

Some Personal Observations
By Larry Nowell, Chatauqua County

I am a former provider and a current recipient of mental health services. I am writing this article in support of Housing Options Made Easy (HOME) and the Mental Health Association of Chautaqua County.

I recently became homeless. As a result of severe anxiety and depression that led to a drug and alcohol relapse, I lost a wife, home, job, car and most of my material possessions.

Prior to my relapse ironically enough, I was working in Buffalo, N.Y, as a Case Manager. Now I am receiving assistance in Jamestown from HOME, one of the housing providers to which I had referred numerous clients in Buffalo.

Without going into too many biographical details concerning my personal experiences as both a provider and recipient of homeless services for individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses, I would like to offer a few observations that I have gained from experience in both roles.

First, providing individuals suffering from mental illness with access to decent, safe, affordable housing is absolutely essential to their recovery.

My second observation is that providing individuals who suffer from mental illnesses with decent, safe and affordable housing is not sufficient in itself to bring about recovery and rehabilitation. Simply having a nice place to live is not enough for most people to feel happy and fulfilled. Almost every mental health consumer I have talked to (including myself) wants what everyone else in society wants - the opportunity to develop a vocational goal, and to contribute to and take part in, as much as possible, the community in which they live. No one wants to be stigmatized, marginalized and socially isolated.

My third observation is that there has to be adequate communication and cooperation between individual services and supports in order for recovery efforts to succeed. Too often, in my experience both as a recipient and provider of services, I have encountered service providers who either have been unresponsive or uncooperative in providing items a consumer may need to assist in areas such as housing and vocational/educational rehabilitation. There should be continuity in recovery. It should begin with stabilizing symptoms through appropriate treatment interventions. Next should come securing adequate housing and income through case management and housing programs such as HOME. Finally, recovery should culminate with the individual participating as fully as he/she can in mainstream society. Such continuity can only take place when all service providers are on the same page.

My fourth and final observation is that that the mental health community must continue its efforts to obtain funding for programs such as HOME and peer-driven support services like the MHA of Chautaqua County.

All services that can be demonstrated to lead to recovery and rehabilitation for mental health consumers must be fully supported if we are to expect adequate results. Advocates must continue to educate politicians of the value of community mental health services.

For more information on HOME, see their website: www.housingoptions.org/.

posted 6/13/03