Mental Health Kokua’s Kahi Holomua works to shatter the stigma surrounding a misunderstood disorder.An estimated 26.2 percent of American adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, the National Institute of Mental Health reports. About 6 percent suffer from a serious mental illness, according to statistics from www.nimh.nih.gov.
Yet, unlike so many survivors of illnesses of the physical variety, mental illness sufferers are not embraced or offered a support team, but are often shunned by family and friends. They are left with devastating diagnoses, to overcome an insurmountable stigma and somehow discover the path to recovery alone.
Like most of society’s stigmas, that which sufferers of mental illness endure is bred from a lack of education and misguided fear. On Maui, a recovery program called Kahi Holomua (Place of Progress)—a branch of Mental Health Kokua—is doing what they can to fight these preconceived notions.
Lisa Darcy, Kahi Holomua coordinator, explained, “Mental illness is misunderstood. It is treatable and even the most severe cases can… have an improved quality of life. It is a painful disease, and the damage it can cause to the individual, family and to the community can be significant. But there is hope out there if you can get connected.”
The 44 participants of Kahi Holomua who have managed to “get connected” to the program are making significant strides toward mental health.
“Against all odds, these guys are able to find that resiliency, to bounce back and take care of their lives,” said Mental Health Kokua’s Chief Executive Officer Greg Payton. “These people are of normal intelligence—people with Ph.D.s, masters degrees, people with careers and families. Then, this illness comes and just wipes out their lives. When you reach the point when you say, ‘I can do this again,’ that’s the ‘a-ha’ piece. That’s what’s called ‘recovery,’ when people start building their lives again.”
Kahi Holomua deviates from the traditional, overly clinical module that many recovery programs still utilize, and instead, aims to normalize care. At the onset, the client is charged with creating his or her own recovery plan and identifying personal goals. Jo-Ann’s goals, for example, include becoming computer savvy, working on her communication skills and securing a job. The program offers sessions that target these goals such as Internet training, a “talk story” lunch hour and job preparation. Jo-Ann proudly reported that her doctor said she is “blossoming.”
“When I came to the program I was still very shy,” said Jo-Ann, diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 40. “But I’ve moved on and am much happier now. If I have any problems, I’m able to talk it out with people, and I feel good in my heart and my mind.”
Terry, whose anxiety makes it difficult to be around others, said that Kahi Holomua has proven a “good fit” for her. She is able to drop in as she pleases. “The program helps in that they understand how I feel. I’m not condemned here.” Terry is finding success with this module, as she is usually able to stay for the whole day.
While the program allows for this type of individualization, “There is a very clear curriculum, a very set schedule of learning,” said Darcy.
Ethel also frequents the program and said Kahi Holomua gave her the opportunity to overcome her fears. “When I first came here, I was really shy; I was afraid of people. I got to open up to my peers here. It’s good to be in a place that’s relaxed.” She particularly likes the Get Fit! classes, in which members can choose from tennis, walking, or swimming, and said that exercising gives her “peace of mind.”
The instant social network gained through Kahi Holomua has proven, without a doubt, the most effective tool for each person’s recovery. “[The members] form a partnership of hope, which is really the power behind the program. The success comes from creating a culture where you have peers. We all need a community,” Darcy explained. Payton agreed, “The power comes from people learning from each other, from watching someone else take a courageous step, that ‘If you can do it, I can do it.’ [The group] breeds a lot of successful contagion.”
Darcy said she has high hopes for dismantling the stigma that surrounds mental illness and is optimistic about the community outreach that is sure to result. “The cohesiveness of our community is what makes Maui so unique,” she said. “One of the things I grew up with was that whoever was in the neighborhood whose parents weren’t home, sat at our dinner table. It’s just what you did. Somehow that translated to me… I’m still sitting at that dinner table, where if someone’s around, you just bring them in. It’s just doing the right thing; and there’s always the opportunity to do the right thing here. I believe in Hawaiian it’s referred to as ‘e komo mai.’”
To learn more about mental health, visit the National Institute of Mental Health’s Website at www.nimh.nih.gov. To get help for yourself or a loved one, visit the Maui Community Mental Heal-th Center, 121 Mahalani Street, Wailuku. In a crisis situation, call the ACCESS line at (800) 753-6879.
To donate to Mental Health Kokua, email mauipsrpc@mentalhealthkokua.org or call 986-0059.