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It’s on My Plate
One morning in May of 2009 I woke up in the inpatient psychiatric ward of a regional medical center in western New Jersey. I had admitted myself through the ER the night before - after a suicide attempt. I would be diagnosed with major depression, general anxiety disorder, and substance abuse...
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Making Recovery More Than Just a Word
Over the past 50 years, the mental health system in New York City has evolved from a system of dependent care to a more person-centered system. But there is still much work to be done. Employment rates for people living with mental illness are still abysmally low….unemployment for people with...
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Northern Westchester Recovery Network in Action
The Mental Health Association of Westchester County, Inc. has established an exciting cutting-edge service known as the Northern Westchester Recovery Network (NWRN) with initial focus on the communities of Peekskill, Ossining, and Mohegan Lake, New York. NWRN is funded by the Office of Mental...
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How Can We Fight the Prejudice and Discrimination of Psychiatric Labels?
Raptly watching President Obama’s inaugural address on January 21, I was struck by his acknowledgement – on equal terms – of three stunning civil rights milestones: Seneca Falls, Selma, and Stonewall. The Stonewall Inn, of course, is the gay bar where, in 1969, a police raid sparked several...
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Embracing Agency-Wide Change: Delivering Person-Centered Services at MHA Westchester
Since its organization shortly after World War II, the Mental Health Association of Westchester County (MHA) has provided services to meet the changing needs of our county. MHA quickly became known as the agency which provided services to those most in need, in an atmosphere of respect and focus on...
