A Journey of Hope

Being diagnosed with a mental illness can be frustrating, and make people feel isolated and hopeless. Many people are fearful to share their diagnosis because of the stigma associated with the disease. Unfortunately, mental illness is still misunderstood by many people. Mental illness is a very serious, invisible disease. However, it's not a character or personality flaw, and is treatable. Individ

uals should not be defined by their diagnosis. They can, and deserve to live a happy, fulfilling, productive life. The benefits of attending a peer support group offer a sense of community and understanding from others who have the same diagnosis, and have "been there." By sharing their stories, and listening to the experiences of others in a compassionate, non-judgmental environment can offer a sense of encouragement, empowerment, and hope. This can help individuals strive to reach their full potential, and thus, improving the quality of their lives. A peer support group is NEVER to replace an individual's medical care. Our lives are not a destination, but a journey. Feeling hopeful can motivate us to take action and make changes to improve our well-being. This makes our path more easily traveled along our journey of hope. "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."