Haven at Blue Creek recognizes the significant role mental health conditions play in the progression and treatment of substance use disorders. Studies show that people that suffer from various mental health conditions, ranging from anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder, tend to use drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication. Roughly 18% of adults in the US who suffer with mental illness also struggle with substance use disorder. However, it has been proven that if both conditions are treated at the same time, recovery success substantially improves for the individual.
With May being recognized by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) since 1949 as Mental Health Awareness Month, we would like to take a moment to note the importance of avoiding stigmatization of these conditions as well as to stress the need to support and educate the community at large on mental illness in our country.
NAMI’s 2024 “Take the Moment” campaign focuses on normalizing and prioritizing care of mental health conditions, including substance use disorders. They offer various resources on their website (www.nami.org) to aid in the education and support of those suffering from mental illness along with their family, friends, and co-workers.
Haven at Blue Creek recognizes the need to destigmatize mental health conditions and push toward a movement of prioritizing mental health care and educating women on ways to manage stress healthily in their daily lives. Through various therapy groups, including art and music therapies as well as equine therapy, the women of Haven learn to let go of fear and anxiety for even a moment and embrace their creativity and get in touch with nature. In addition, Haven offers women the option to participate in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy in order to address traumatic memories. These opportunities along with various other individual and group sessions are designed to meet the needs of our residents who battle co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.