Recovery luncheons are a monthly occurrence at the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County.

The Mental Health Association is a peer recovery support center offering recovery coaching, peer support services and groups, advocacy, training, and veterans, family, employment and job support. It provides linkages to mental health and substance use treatment, primary care doctors, health and human services, and is available to assist adult individuals in identifying community resources for healthier living.

Celebrating positive milestones has been shown to improve long term recovery. The luncheons are an opportunity to recognize and support progress made by participants in mental health and substance use disorder recovery.

With the coordination of volunteer Jan Ball, members of four local churches have assumed this responsibility: Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Falconer and First Presbyterian, Kidder Memorial United Methodist and St. Luke’s Episcopal Churches in Jamestown. Members of St. Luke’s prepared and served the meal for the September Recovery Luncheon.

At that event Steven Cobb, MHA executive director, gave out certificates for participant accomplishments and announced the Recovery Jam and Dance that was held at the MHA on Sept. 27.

Cobb also announced the expansion of MHA services to Northern Chautauqua County with the opening of the program in Grace Lutheran Church, 601 Eagle St., Dunkirk. Support groups and individual coaching are provided there on Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone with questions or in need of services for themselves or a family member is welcome to call or stop in at the Mental Health Association, Door 14 in the rear of the Gateway Center, 31 Water St., Jamestown. Hours are Mondays through Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, call 661-9044 or visit MHAChautauqua.org or facebook.com/MHAChautauqua. More information about the MHA OPEN (Occupational Peer Empowerment Network) workforce development program can call 490-4438, email OPEN@MHAChautauqua.org, or visit MHAChautauqua.org/OPEN.