Angel’s Recovery Story: Finding Joy
By Angel, a Certified Peer Specialist, SCI Albion, Pennsylvania* Hopelessness, fear, and addiction ruled my life before I tried to commit suicide. These feelings, this emotion stem from my childhood. When my parents divorced and went their separate ways, I was forced to take care [...]Read more
Poncho’s Recovery Story: I Realized…
By Poncho, a Certified Peer Specialist, SCI Greene, Pennsylvania* I mostly hid behind my mental illness and self-medicated with alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. I never told the truth about what I felt or was thinking. I never had positive interactions with others. I was [...]Read more
Anthony’s Recovery Story: Letting Go of the Past
By Anthony, a Certified Peer Specialist, SCI Albion, Pennsylvania* My name is Anthony M. I am a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPS) who works and lives at SCI Albion. I’m going to share a fraction of my story with you. My hope is that it will offer some sort of empowerment in [...]Read more
Henry’s Recovery Story: Lost & Found
By Henry, a Certified Peer Specialist, SCI Greene, Pennsylvania* Sitting in a cold jail cell, sick because I was a heroin addict; nowhere to turn what did I do? My moral compass was definitely broken. It was years later that I found some real answers to help me out of the pit [...]Read more
Roy’s Recovery Story: I’m the Evidence
By Roy, a Certified Peer Specialist, SCI Albion, Pennsylvania* This part of my life started in Philadelphia after the death of my grandma, who died in my arms when I was about the age of seven. I had trouble coping with the tragedy that tore my life apart. I couldn’t understand [...]Read more
Len’s Recovery Story: BLACK SAND, FOOLS GOLD, All That Glitters Isn’t Gold
By Len, a Certified Peer Specialist, SCI Greene, Pennsylvania* BLACK SAND, FOOLS GOLD, All that glitters isn’t gold… Growing up early on my own, I had to learn to be a man at the age of ten: I was the only male in a family with seven other siblings. It wasn’t easy [...]Read more
Carl’s Recovery Story: True Compassion
By Carl, a Certified Peer Specialist, SCI Greene, Pennsylvania* True compassion not only tries to understand the pain of others, but also provides practical assistance… Well, in 1993, my Developmental Articulation Disorder kicked in and I didn’t have any type of social [...]Read more
Peace and Comfort Through Photos
“These are two of the photos that I took in July during a picnic with some friends. We were at Rocky Gap State Park in Flintstone, MD. I couldn’t help myself but to walk around and take a lot of pictures, because I see and find so much Serenity in the beauty of [...]Read more
Harvest Full of Hope Celebrates Recovery
It’s hard to believe October is just a few weeks away! We look forward to the changing season—and to celebrating the 15th Annual Lehigh Valley Harvest Full of Hope in Bethlehem, Penn. on October 19. ITE/MH partnered with Harvest Full of Hope and invited Lehigh Valley [...]Read more
Louanne Pictures Recovery and Support
“As I went for a walk around the new area where I moved, I stopped to take photos of the beauty that surrounds me with my new camera. So I set a goal to take pictures of the seasons changing because we represent the same thing in our lives. This reminds me that sometimes we [...]Read more
Bonnie’s Recovery Story: “By quickly executing my WRAP®, I gained resilience and control!”
By Bonnie, a Recovery Coordinator in Beaver County, PA I am sharing my story with ITE/MH Campaign in hopes of inspiring others to plan for wellness. I have battled recurrent major depression for more than half of my life. I have been hospitalized for three mental health crises…. [...]Read more
Representative Donna Bullock Joins Campaign As Honorary Ambassador
ITE/MH first met Representative Donna Bullock (D-Phila.) at a June Rally for Human Services in Harrisburg. During the event, she spoke about living with mental illness in her family and how connection, example, possibility, and hope—the values reflected in the ITE/MH [...]Read more
And the Winners Are…
We are excited to announce twelve winners of ITE/MH’s Mental Health Month Camera Contest. Meet the winners and see how they plan to use their cameras. Natasha Bagwe: “I have been struggling with my mental health for a long time, and the only thing that has empowered me is music, [...]Read more
Mental Health Month Camera Contest
May is Mental Health Month, and we’re celebrating with a camera contest. Enter today to let us see the world through your eyes. Help us show the individual nature of recovery. Tell us how you see mental health recovery for a chance to win one of 12 digital cameras. How it [...]Read more
Mental Health Awareness Fair—May 13, 2016
ITE/MH will be there. Stop by and see us!Read more
Adventures in the Middle of Nowhere, by Nicole Steenstra Darr
It’s been two years this April since I left my career. A few thoughts: So much of my identity was wrapped up in my career. I still feel lost, like I’m wandering off-trail, without a map, without it. In my case, there is an easy, fairly socially acceptable answer to [...]Read more
Jenn’s Recovery Story: A Journey Not A Quick-Fix
By Jenn, Blogger and Freelance Writer I was diagnosed with depression at around age 12, and I felt like the world had come to an end for me. I have since had many struggles and what often feels like a war raging within me. I have learned a lot through these struggles, and I think [...]Read more
New Horizons Drop-In Center is the Evidence
“We’re the Evidence of how feeling supported and connected gives us the courage and enjoyment to work together and share what Recovery looks like in the community!” —Karen, Manny, Dustin, Sue, Michell, Jamie, Alex, and Lucas, New Horizons Drop-In Center, [...]Read more
MHA of Lancaster County is the Evidence
“We’re the evidence that while mental illness is not a choice, recovery is.” —Sara, Joe, Marty, Gretchen, Mary, Peggy, Barbara, Janet, MHA of Lancaster CountyRead more
Joe, Bart, and Brendan of The Lodge at Newport are the Evidence
“We’re the Evidence—We of the Fairweather Lodge (The Lodge at Newport) are the evidence that as we work, that as we help others around our community, and support each other with shared meal and social times that we reduce and free ourselves of inpatient services.” —Joe, Bart, and [...]Read more
Leonard and Mike are the Evidence
“We’re the Evidence of how support leads to stability. Our Fairweather Lodge, The Lodge at Newport, gives us the responsibility for our lives, our home, and our peers every day.” —Leonard, Mike, The Lodge at Newport, Newport, PARead more
Mary is the Evidence
“I’m the Evidence of what can be achieved when mental health treatment is successful. In 2009 I was suicidal. I told my psychiatrist that I wanted to hook the mask of my CPAP machine to my car’s exhaust and end it all. This was the low point in a long road of [...]Read more
Michael, Michael, Steve, Tim, Brenda, and Chris are the Evidence
“We’re the evidence of mental health recovery because we are traveling to State College for a three day conference with Clubhouses and mental health colleagues from all across the state to share knowledge and experiences, learn from each other, and work together for [...]Read more
Joe is the Evidence
“I’m the Evidence of mental health recovery, because I spend time at the Clubhouse working the kitchen preparing and serving meals and running the snack bar. I have held steady jobs as a material handler in a warehouse and washing dishes at the Ritz BBQ.” —Joe, [...]Read more
Tim is the Evidence
“I’m the Evidence of mental health recovery, because I help the person I live with in day-to-day tasks. At the Clubhouse I help prepare meals and sell lunch tickets to the members and run the snack bar. I am actively looking for work in the community in the restaurant [...]Read more
Dauphin County Community Support Program & Its Members are the Evidence
“We’re the Evidence that the hope, connection, and respect we find in in the Dauphin County Community Support Program makes anything possible.” — Velma, Keith, Kimberly, Kathyann, Jessica, Martha, Abby, Maggie, Deb, Chester, Diana, Barbara, Fay, WandaRead more
David is the Evidence
“I’m the Evidence that there can be recovery from mental illness and that life does go on. I have come out of my shell and gone into public. I hold a steady job working at Amazon, and I am going to College for Criminal Justice. I am the evidence.” —David, [...]Read more
Joe is the Evidence
“I’m the Evidence of how an example can lead, how far encouragement can take you, and how one step begins a journey towards endless possibilities. Thanks to the examples that I’ve had in my life the past nine years, I’ve had the encouragement to take the [...]Read more
David, Ian, Allen, Tammy, and Jackie are the Evidence
“We’re the Evidence by having created a community that fosters belief in the attainment of individuals’ goals and desires, as well as bringing true integration into our community.” — David, Ian, Allen, Tammy, and Jackie, Cafe The Lodge, Bethlehem, PARead more
Carl and Steven are the Evidence
“Steven and I work for The Advocacy Alliance, a Mental Health Association. Through our job We’re the Evidence of how encouragement can be the first step on our journey toward endless possibilities and how hope can transform us and heal our soul.” —Carl and [...]Read more
Nikki, Maureen, Chris, Rochelle, and Megan are the Evidence
“We’re the Evidence of how friendship and understanding help create lasting supports during the recovery process.” —Nikki, Maureen, Chris, Rochelle, and Megan, Aurora Center, New Bloomfield, PARead more
Sue is the Evidence
“I’m the Evidence of how better understanding the journey inspires and informs my advocacy.” —Sue, Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA Read more