May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which helps raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues. As much as 21% of our guests accessing the overnight emergency shelter self-reported having a mental illness, whether that be a moderate or debilitating case. At Mel Trotter Ministries, we work closely with several local partner providers in the mental health space to provide compassionate care to our guests struggling in this area.
Through the New Hope Sobering Center, there are onsite recovery coaches available seven days a week. These state-certified coaches are not ordinary professionals; they are individuals who have navigated addiction themselves. This shared experience allows them to connect with those they help on a personal level, offering guidance, support, and understanding. Recognizing the link between mental health and substance abuse, the Step-Up Recovery program works in tandem with these coaches to give a comprehensive support network for anyone entering through the doors of Mel Trotter Ministries, whether they are experiencing homelessness or seeking a path to recovery.
The commitment to mental health extends beyond recovery coaching. Our clinic ensures that every individual is assessed for depression and anxiety, offering necessary resources such as medication and counseling. In collaboration with Catherine’s Health Center, telehealth psychiatric services provide accessible and compassionate care. The clinic offers a dedicated space for behavioral health conversations, ensuring privacy and dignity for all. This initiative, supported by partnerships with Arbor Circle and Network 180, ensures that guests have easy access to psychiatric services, bridging the gap between need and care.
In a world where mental health challenges often go unnoticed or untreated, Mel Trotter Ministries is working to provide compassionate care to every individual no matter their situation. By working together, raising awareness, and advocating for change, we can help support and care for those in our city who are most vulnerable. If you are someone who struggles with mental illness, you do not have to hide. Please know there is help and hope. You are not alone.
