I recently went on a 3-day trip with UMatter, a teen group that works to reduce the stigma around mental health and find solutions to helping those with mental illnesses. Over the course of the 3-days, our group went to various facilities in Pontiac, Ann Arbor, and Detroit to learn more about our community and what we can do to help.
In Pontiac we visited Common Ground and learned about all of the programs they offer to people in need. I was really impressed to not only hear about how many programs they offer, but how successful they are in what they do. In addition to Common Ground, we also heard from the Oakland County Health Department. They have over 40 services and a goal of protecting their community “through health promotion, disease prevention and protection of the environment.” We also heard from the Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force who really brought even more awareness to teen suicide and how important it is to continue the conversation surrounding it. Our group also got to hear from the Oakland Community Health Network which was amazing! Lastly, we visited the Oakland County Jail. This was a very eye opening experience for me and it was nothing like I thought it would be. It was really impactful to see how people with mental illnesses live in that environment.
Our first stop in Ann Arbor was Dawn Farms. Dawn Farms was one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. We got to learn about the psychological side of addiction, which I find is not talked about often. We also got to hear from 2 addicts that are currently at Dawn Farms and their stories were super impactful. After Dawn Farms, we visited the University of Michigan Depression Center. We learned about the different research and treatments they provide as well as the different things the university does to support their community. Finally, we went to Ele’s Place which provides support for young children and families who are grieving. I really enjoyed listening to how they bring together their community with different activities and more!
On our last day in Detroit we visited Lighthouse and learned about their efforts to support those in the community who need food, water, shelter, etc. We also went to Kadima which is a center that provides services to those with mental health needs as they move forward in life, which is the meaning of Kadima. Finally, we visited the Wayne State CHAMPS Program to learn about how they support their students who have a history in foster care. As someone who had little knowledge about the foster care system before this trip, I was surprised to learn how many kids are in foster care today and about the lives of the youth in the system.
Overall, I was very impressed by all the facilities we visited and the work they are doing to help the community! This trip helped to open my eyes to not only how many people still need help in this community, but also to the amazing work that is being done to help those in need. I learned and will not forget this experience!
