MHASP Gets Its Message Across Loud and Clear
People and programs associated with MHASP have been in the news recently, helping to bring some well-deserved attention to themselves and to the Association.
Consumer Centers Show the True Meaning of Thanksgiving
This past Thanksgiving staffers and volunteers from the Abington Consumer Center, the Chester City Consumer Center and Delaware County Project SHARE in Darby were recognized for using their Thanksgiving holiday to serve turkey dinners to more than 100 people with mental illness.
The staffers were recognized in articles that appeared in two different suburban editions of the November 26 Philadelphia Inquirer.
One of the articles highlighted the work of the Abington Consumer Center, which served turkey dinners to more than 70 of its consumers, many of whom stopped by to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, shoot pool, listen to music and watch television.
"Without this place, these people would be sitting in their rooms by themselves," said Roger F. Richter, who volunteers at the center after having been treated for mental illness himself. "[The center] is phenomenal," he said. "It's of such great value, I can't describe it in words."
In a separate article, the Chester City Consumer Center, working together with Delaware County Project SHARE, received attention for serving up a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for its consumers. The centers created a Thanksgiving atmosphere, from the festive decorations and the food to the family-like atmosphere that the volunteers helped foster.
"It's like a home away from home," said Edie McCole, project manager for the Chester City Consumer Center.
Joseph Rogers Spends Some Quality 'Radio Times'
Joseph A. Rogers, executive director of MHASP, appeared on WHYY's "Radio Times" on November 23 to offer his insights into what should be done to serve, support and protect the homeless community.
Rogers was part of a panel that also included two formerly homeless men now living in shelters operated by Horizon House and, by phone, the head of the Denver Rescue Mission, which provides shelter for homeless people.
Host Marty Moss Coane said the show was prompted by the murders of seven homeless men in Denver since the summer.
During the show, Rogers said he believes that society is having a burnout on the homeless issue and is hopeful that through early intervention, it can reverse the homelessness trend.
"[We need to] reach out to kids now, or they'll be future homeless people," he said. "Society is too rich too have people on the streets."
TEC Program Hits the Airwaves
Edie Mannion, director of the TEC Family Center, appeared November 8 on WHYY's "Voices in the Family" as part of a discussion on Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Mannion appeared with a woman who was raised by a mother who had the disorder.
Mannion's appearance helped to promote the four-week TEC Family Workshop on BPD that began November 16. People began to register for the workshop almost immediately after the program aired and it was full by the end of the day. The next TEC seminar on BPD will be held April 6 at MCP Hahnemann. For more information or to register, call (215) 842-4342.
Chester County Compeer Attracts Some Headlines
Three newspapers in Chester County recently featured MHASP's fledgling Chester County Compeer, a program that matches adults recovering from mental illnesses with community volunteers so that the two can spend time together and interact socially. The stories appeared in Town Talk, Daily Local News and The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Rob Chisholm, director of Chester County Compeer, said he hopes the media recognition will help increase public awareness for both mental health issues and his program.
"One of our problems is that we don't have enough visibility," he said. "It is an obscure constituency that we work with. People with mental illness are pretty much alone. This program reaches out to them and tries to bring them into the mainstream."
