Buoyed by recent coverage in the Gazette-Journal that provided an insight into what the 84 East Peer Resource Recovery Center is all about, phone inquiries have increased greatly, as well as drop-ins, according to Corey Rooks of the organization that provides substance abuse and mental health services.
The Peer Recovery Center is located at 7603 Hospital Drive in Gloucester, next door to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital.
This month’s activities include, but are not limited to, the Women’s Empowerment Group on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, NAMI Connections on Thursdays and What’s Cooking (a cooking class on how to make simple one or two-person meals on a budget with no fuss) on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The center will also be holding a get-together on March 17 at the Whitcomb Lodge at Beaverdam Park to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
The center also still has its normal daily meetings, the All Recovery Meeting on Mondays, Adult Children of Alcoholics and Medication Assisted Recovery Support on Tuesdays and Recovery Connections/All Recovery Meeting on Thursdays.
“We realize that mental health issues can be a very touchy, sensitive subject with people,” Rooks said. “Some do not want to admit they or their loved ones may be coping with things that they do not understand or will flatly deny that anything is wrong with them. This is not a healthy attitude.
“All of us that work at the Resource Center have had mental health/addiction/recovery issues or have lived with or known someone that does,” he said. “We’ve all been along this road and have been through the ups and downs of what can be mental health crisis. We understand. We are only here to help.”
What is a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis, Rooks said, is any situation in which a person’s actions, feelings and behaviors can lead to them hurting themselves or others and/or putting them at risk of being unable to care for themselves or function in the community in a healthy manner. Situations that can lead to a mental health crisis can include stress at home like conflicts with loved ones, exposure to trauma, or violence. Stress at work or school and other environmental stress can also contribute to a mental health crisis.
What are the signs?
A mental health crisis can display itself a variety of ways. There is no single indicator that a person is experiencing a mental health emergency or may be considering suicide, but here are some signs to look for:
—Unable to complete daily tasks liking getting dressed, bathing, etc.
—Verbally saying, writing or insinuating that they would like to kill themselves and/or talking about death.
—Withdrawing from friends, family and their typical social situations.
—Showing impulsive or reckless behavior, being aggressive.
—Having dramatic shifts in mood, sleeping or eating patterns.
Lastly, if you have someone in your household that is going through a mental health crisis and you feel the need to contact the police/sheriff’s office, request a Crisis Intervention Trained officer to respond, Rooks said. They have been trained and know how do de-escalate mental health crisis situations.
If you are interested in any of the center’s programs, services and times, or for more information, contact Pamela Mullins or Amalia Morrissey at 804-210-1619.