Everyday moments of Courage and Bravery
As a Mom of three boys, March has come to mean an unexpected pause for me-mainly, between sports seasons. It marks the end of a busy basketball season with time still before settling into the hours spent on the sidelines of a baseball field.
At Philipstown Hub, March has given me time to take a deep breath after a busy season of Hub happenings, including three evenings of a beautiful art exhibit by Haldane Human Rights students, two community Naloxone (Narcan) trainings and a Cold Spring Chamber breakfast hosted by the Hub and focused around wellness.
Haldane students proudly displayed and were able to discuss their meaningful projects--a prime example of the kind of positive risk-taking opportunity that reduces the likelihood of youth substance use. These events help spotlight the Hub as a true community resource. They are the events that are easy to publicize on social media and share photos and videos of.
But there are so many other events going on within the walls of the Hub that I would argue are even more spectacular--everyday moments of courage and bravery. Philipstown residents walking through the door at 5 Stone Street and stating clearly: "I need help". Grandparents somehow finding time among so many other responsibilities to attend the bi-monthly Hub PAUSE support group for grandparents or other relatives raising grandchildren/kin. It takes courage to ask for support when it's needed--and every single one of us faces this moment at some point in our lives. I feel proud that the Hub exists for those who are taking this important first step.
This month includes Mental Health Matters Day in New York State--a day-long legislative advocacy event sponsored by the Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. and held each March at New York State’s capital in Albany. While many of my colleagues and passionate advocates will be present in Albany urging legislative action, I will be at Philipstown Court providing resource guidance to court participants that need assistance accessing help around mental health and addiction issues. It is an innovative project between the Hub, Town of Philipstown and Justice Linson. I will hustle back from Court in order to welcome a group of middle school students from Manitou School, who will be taking a walking field trip to the Hub, to be able to see firsthand where they can turn for mental health and addiction help and support.
At the end of the day, what I hope we can provide to community members is HOPE--hope that resources are available, hope that there are people you can talk to, hope that there is community to engage with and a realization that every one of our residents MATTER.
The Hub's dedication to mental health awareness will be on display throughout March and April, as we facilitate new school-based programming around mental health and addiction at Garrison Union Free School and host a Youth Mental Health First Aid training on March 21st.
Every Spring feels like a new beginning to me, but 2020 feels especially so. I am encouraged to think that the existence of Philipstown Hub in the community has already worked to decrease the stigma around mental health and addiction issues--and acts as an impetus for support and change.
YOU MATTER to our community. YOU MATTER to our organization.
Danielle Pack McCarthy
March 2020