At San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center, we take our motto to heart – Moving Lives Forward. For 53 years, our Center has been providing compassionate services to the most vulnerable in our community. They might not always think they need help. They might not always want to receive help, but we’re always here ready to serve them when they’re ready, however they need us. In recognition of May is Mental Health Month, we honor a very special client, Marcus, and applaud him for his perseverance, courage, character and achievement, even in the face of adversity.

Marcus has come a long way over the years. It hasn’t been a linear path to recovery though and it certainly hasn’t been easy. He has been homeless living on the sidewalk, suffered from abuse, struggled with substance use and self-harm, had serious physical health issues and dealt with mental illness for most of his life. Marcus, however, is a survivor, having survived multiple suicide attempts, and he wants to share his story to help others.

“It’s one of those things I feel that should be discussed more, especially in communities of color.”

Marcus grew up in a physically and emotionally abusive environment with a single mother. He suffered from visual hallucinations and was diagnosed with mental illness at age 9. Like so many others, it went untreated for a long time until a school counselor intervened in his adolescent years. By then, he was already on a dangerous trajectory. By the age of 18, he was kicked out of his home and ended up on the streets. Still struggling with substance use, he moved around from one transitional housing program to another. He seldom stayed in a place long enough to feel comfortable.

Our Center first encountered Marcus at Cornerstone, the Center’s program for homeless individuals with mental health issues. Many of his issues played out during this time and unfortunately, his cycle of drug use and homelessness did not end here.

It was actually when Marcus started receiving services at another Center program, the Victory Wellness Center, that he would eventually turn a corner. He was determined this time to do things differently or so he thought. At the Victory Wellness Center, Marcus received therapy and attended group meetings. He also participated in our Client Run Center, a place where those affected by mental illness can come to socialize, participate in groups, work on recovery and gain valuable knowledge to help with day-to-day living. For the first time he had hope, but his demons still took over. “My body was shackled to substances.” Even after living on the streets and a stint in rehab, he couldn’t stop. It wasn’t until a near death experience that he finally turned that corner.

Through all of these struggles, the team at the Victory Wellness Center and Client Run Center supported him. “This was the familial support I never had.” He found the family that he had been longing for his whole life. “I will always cherish the experience of having them be there for me especially in my darker times.” The Center placed Marcus in its own transitional housing and while working on his recovery, helped him to secure permanent housing.

Marcus has since become a certified peer counselor, helping to provide support and inspiration to others going through similar experiences. He is also going back to school to become a certified chemical dependency counselor and volunteers at Cornerstone to help with client engagement. He has come full circle.

“Right now I’m in a new place. I’ve found purpose and a reason to live and direction. I’m older than I hoped to be at this stage of life, but late is better than never. My journey hasn’t ended and now I’m looking forward to the new and consistently hopeful for the first time in my life.”

Our community is suffering what feels like an epidemic of suicide, mental illness and substance abuse. Together, we can fight the stigma against mental illness so people can get the care they need. More than 6,500 people like Marcus receive services at San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center each year. Please help our Center provide treatment for those suffering from the most severe and persistent types of mental illness and share our commitment to relieving suffering and improving the quality of life of individuals in our community.

Sincerely,

Tim Ryder
President/CEO