Simone Biles won three individual Olympic gold medals in 2024, but it was her withdraw from the 2020 games that made her a household name. Courageously sharing her personal struggles, she championed an awareness of mental illness that reduced the stigma felt by millions worldwide. Today, October 10th, we celebrate World Mental Health Day by normalizing these experiences. If you are suffering from anxiety, depression, substance abuse disorder or hundreds of other mental health challenges, you are not alone. 59.3 million people (1 out of 5 adults) in the United States are also affected. Unlike physical illness, mental health disorders are often unseen, making it difficult for people to ask for help.
Highmark Health Options and Network Connect are seeking to make it easier for people to connect with treatment options through Dover’s new Recovery Café. Designed to mimic your local community center, this café provides more than just beverages. It is a safe place for people to spend time, whether they are unhoused or simply looking for answers. Strictly drug and alcohol free, members are required to attend one therapeutic circle per week. Instead of cash, members pay for services by helping out, doing dishes or taking out the trash. This makes the venue accessible for those who are unable to hold traditional jobs, while maintaining their dignity as human beings.
Members get help scheduling doctor’s appointments and finding housing assistance. There are also open mic nights, exercise classes and meditation sessions. Open from 4-9pmMondays and Fridays and 10am-3pm Saturdays and Sundays, the Recovery Café is truly a community-based mental health resource.
While stigma does still exist, projects such as this one are breaking down barriers to effective treatment by moving solutions away from clinical settings into a more natural environment. Celebrities such as Simone Biles may help the wider community understand mental health issues, but it is organizations such as Network Connect that provide a welcoming space for those in need.
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