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Mental Health Association Plans Multiple Events

The staff of the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County are planning multiple events for Recovery Month in September. Staff available for a photograph were, from left, Steven Cobb, Sheridan Smith, Joe Anderson, Mark Lehere, Kia Briggs, Luis Rosa, Jennifer Diamond, Jenny Rowe and Joseph Vaughn. Submitted photo

The Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County will hold several events as part of Recovery Month, a national observance held every September.

Recovery Month teaches that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. It celebrates the gains made by people in recovery, just as health improvements of those with hypertension, diabetes, asthma and heart disease are celebrated.

Medication Assisted Therapy is the topic for 11 a.m. group meetings every Tuesday in September. The Mental Health Association and UPMC Chautauqua are jointly presenting the group to assist people using medications or thinking of using medications to support their recovery.

At Tie Dye for Hope and Suicide Awareness on Thursday, Sept. 13, there will be refreshments and friendship from noon to 1 p.m., followed by a tie-dye workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. Those attending should bring a white cotton apparel item to tie-dye. The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Chautauqua County is providing the tie dye supplies; a limited number of t-shirts will be available, if needed.

The public can learn how to reverse an opioid overdose and save a life at the Narcan training at 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 17. Along with training by the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services, those participating will be given a Narcan kit.

The Chautauqua Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council is working with several community organizations to plan Recovery Walks on Thursdays, Sept. 20, in Dunkirk and Sept. 27 at the Mental Health Association. The Mental Health Association event begins at noon with a short walk along the Chadakoin Riverwalk, followed by stories of hope, fellowship and a 1 p.m. Recovery Jam Luncheon.

Family Support is a Mental Health Association peer support group for families and friends of people in recovery. It meets Mondays from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and uses Community Reinforcement and Family Training, a program that teaches how to support those still using substances and guide them to treatment. During September, the CRAFT instructors will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. to talk with people about the MHA and the CRAFT program before the group starts at 6 p.m.

All of the events are free and open to the public.

The Mental Health Association is in the rear of the Gateway Center, 31 Water St., Jamestown, using Door 14. To learn more, call 661-9044 or visit www.mhachautauqua.org or www.facebook.com/MHAChautauqua.

A United Way Partner Organization since 2015, the Mental Health Association is a peer recovery support center. It offers recovery coaching, services navigation, peer support groups, advocacy, veterans support, employment and job support, and family support. The association has linkages to mental health and substance use treatment, primary care doctors, health and human services, SSI/SSDI income establishment and veterans benefits. Hours are Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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