As we enter the month of May, Goodwill wants to take a moment to highlight the significance of Mental Health Awareness Month and why it’s important to us.
“When I was first diagnosed with unspecified psychosis, I didn’t want to believe it,” Michaelae Cotton said. “Many times…those with this diagnosis are described as ‘crazy.’ I was embarrassed and felt ashamed. It wasn’t until I found safe spaces that I began to embark on a journey of victory. My nurse came into my life at the perfect time.”
Last year was a big year for Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana as we educated, employed and served more individuals than ever before. Since launching our new Strategic Plan two years ago, we’ve made significant progress on our objectives and goals.
World Mental Health Day is a reminder to us all to intentionally pause and reflect on the importance of nurturing our emotional well-being. In our busy lives, it can be easy to overlook and even deprioritize our own needs. Over time, this lack of self care can manifest as increased irritability, fatigue, anxiety, depression or even burnout. Today, take a moment to reflect on how you can prioritize your mental health through mindfulness practices, connection to others and accessing therapy.
Indianapolis Metropolitan High School is Goodwill’s best-fit school for grades 9-12, supporting teenaged students experiencing barriers to education and ensuring graduates can either enter college or the workforce. These outcomes are met through a number of wraparound services Indy Met offers for its student population, including transportation, child care and family empowerment coaching.
As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is reflecting on the progress we’ve made as an organization in supporting our employees through their mental health struggles, while removing the stigma surrounding mental illness. However, we also recognize that challenges remain to ensuring quality and affordable mental health care is available to all, and we’re taking steps to provide all of our employees with adequate mental health support.
One year ago, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana launched its 2022-24 One Goodwill strategic plan, and we're proud to share some of the highlights after a year of collaborative work.
When Johnny Manson joined Goodwill in October 2016 as a part-time donation attendant, he had been struggling to secure employment due to past legal issues and a lifelong history of depression.
Bea Sweet joined the Goodwill retail crew at our Columbus location in November 2021. Although she has the support of a few friends and her co-workers at Goodwill, Bea has experienced the judgment and stigma associated with coming out as a transgender person. She began living as a woman almost seven years ago, when she was 41 years old.