Thank you for writing a post to make Iowans aware of the need for more financial support through the government for services for those with mental illnesses. I have had the schizoaffective disorder most of my life. I am 72 and developed psychosis in 1977. My depression goes back to my preteen years, I think. My treatment for the illness began when I developed psychosis. I have been under the care of a psychiatrist since then and on medication most of the time.
I am commenting to push Recovery International meetings. Recovery International, formerly Recovery, Inc., is a organization that was started by the practicing and research psychiatrist, Dr. Abraham Low, in 1937. Dr. Low died in 1954. The organization continued after his death through his patients and his widow.
That the organization still exists is a testament to Dr. Low's understanding of what would help patients' recovery and his skill at putting what he knew into a practical form that his patients could apply without a mental health professional leading the application.
We have meetings in the formats of in person, on the phone, online through video format, and online through chat format. Each meeting meets once a week and is lead by a person who is a 'fellow sufferer' and who has gone through the leadership training given by Recovery International.
In iowa, I lead the Ames group, which was in person but has been on Zoom since 2020 because of the pandemic. I believe there are still meetings in Dubuque and Council Bluffs. The RI website is at https://www.recoveryinternational.org. The meetings are free, though we ask for a free will donation. The size of the meetings vary from just a few to 12 or so. We have about 500 groups active around the world.
Thank you for writing a post to make Iowans aware of the need for more financial support through the government for services for those with mental illnesses. I have had the schizoaffective disorder most of my life. I am 72 and developed psychosis in 1977. My depression goes back to my preteen years, I think. My treatment for the illness began when I developed psychosis. I have been under the care of a psychiatrist since then and on medication most of the time.
I am commenting to push Recovery International meetings. Recovery International, formerly Recovery, Inc., is a organization that was started by the practicing and research psychiatrist, Dr. Abraham Low, in 1937. Dr. Low died in 1954. The organization continued after his death through his patients and his widow.
That the organization still exists is a testament to Dr. Low's understanding of what would help patients' recovery and his skill at putting what he knew into a practical form that his patients could apply without a mental health professional leading the application.
We have meetings in the formats of in person, on the phone, online through video format, and online through chat format. Each meeting meets once a week and is lead by a person who is a 'fellow sufferer' and who has gone through the leadership training given by Recovery International.
In iowa, I lead the Ames group, which was in person but has been on Zoom since 2020 because of the pandemic. I believe there are still meetings in Dubuque and Council Bluffs. The RI website is at https://www.recoveryinternational.org. The meetings are free, though we ask for a free will donation. The size of the meetings vary from just a few to 12 or so. We have about 500 groups active around the world.
Thank you for sharing your story here, Margot, and also for this valuable resource!