![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sandbox3.foxtrotdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Marie_-Mental-Health-Awareness_Template-600x600.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month this May, Marie\u2019s story is a powerful reminder of resilience and recovery. Throughout her life, Marie has faced numerous challenges, including repeated hospitalizations due to bipolar disorder, PTSD, substance use issues, and a range of serious medical problems. Her life took a further downturn ten years ago when her father passed away, the family home was sold, and she became homeless.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was suicidal, living in a shelter and estranged from my family,\u201d Marie recalls.<\/p>\n
In 2015, during a particularly difficult time, Marie connected with Humanim\u2019s residential behavioral health program. This was a turning point for her as she moved out of the shelter and into an apartment. With hands-on support from the Humanim team, including individual and group counseling sessions, Marie began to rebuild her life. She stopped using drugs and took her medications regularly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat changed? The support network, the caring, the structure. Humanim gave me accountability and responsibility for my mental health,\u201d Marie says. \u201cThey support you, but you have to do the work. It was different because I wasn\u2019t able to cop out. I knew what it was like to be homeless in a shelter and didn\u2019t want to go back to that. I wanted to change my life. I wanted my family back, and this is the road it takes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marie has been working with an Employment Consultant from Humanim to find a new job.<\/p>\n
Marie remains a resident in Humanim\u2019s supportive living program. Through the program, she was able to rent a high-rise apartment all to herself in Columbia. A counselor and therapy coordinator provide ongoing support, and she attends Humanim group activities where she has formed friendships with other individuals. She is extremely grateful for the help Humanim has provided over the past decade.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you want to change your life, they\u2019ll give you the support and guidance and a caring manner that makes it all possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marie credits one Humanim staffer in particular. \u201cI want to single out Sandy Corbin. She has been a lightning rod for me; she\u2019s kept me honest. She\u2019s accepted me for who I am and encouraged me every step of the way. I couldn\u2019t do it without her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, at the age of 62, Marie has achieved independence and focuses on staying strong.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to stay healthy, mentally and physically. I take a lot of meds and I have a lot of ailments, but I have a positive attitude because God wakes me up every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marie\u2019s journey underscores the importance of Mental Health Awareness Month and highlights the transformative power of support and determination. Her story is a testament to the impact that comprehensive mental health care and community support can have on an individual’s life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month this May, Marie\u2019s story is a powerful reminder of resilience and recovery. Throughout her life, Marie has faced numerous challenges, including repeated hospitalizations due to bipolar disorder, PTSD, substance use issues, and a range of serious medical problems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28457,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,21],"tags":[33,16],"class_list":["post-28452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-our-impact","tag-behavioral-health","tag-human-services"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n