How Homelessness Has Impacted My Mental Health

The first impactful experience I had with homelessness was at 13. I wasn’t fully aware of how or why I was in this situation or what it truly meant, but I knew I didn’t feel like myself. Positive there was something wrong with me, I poured over a copy of the DSM-IV hoping to self-diagnose. If I could find the problem with me, I thought, I could fix it and be happy again.

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ATR Short List - 6 BIPOC Mental Health Resources

We are wired to be socially connected, and as a result, our mental health hinges on it. Research indicates that prolonged loneliness can lead to serious psychological distress. For Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)  individuals, these effects are magnified by the additional burden of navigating a society where they may face ongoing racial prejudices and microaggressions. This environment can lead…

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Sober Summer: Navigating Social Events in Eau Claire without Alcohol

We live in a place that has only a short window to enjoy warm, summery weather, so summer means more chances for socializing. We also live in a place where culturally, socializing means alcohol. Alcohol seems to make an appearance everywhere from music festivals to baby showers and in all activities from painting to yoga…


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Thoughts Regarding the Eau Claire Day Resource Center

But lately, questions from our team and community members regarding how I feel about the Day Resource Center have become more frequent. It keeps popping up in unexpected meetings, conversations, and seemingly unrelated spaces so I decided to listen to nudges and learn more about it.

This led me to attend the Day Resource Center Community Meeting on June 18th…

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