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(WNY News Now) – In a recent interview with WNY News Now, Michael Nordin and Michelle Colaiacovo of the Mental Health Association discussed the various resources and services the organization provides for the community.
WNY News Now recently conducted an interview with Michael Nordin, Executive Director of the MHA, as well as Michelle Colaiacovo, who runs the organization’s CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) program, to bring awareness to the services they provide for those in need within the community.
The Mental Health Association is a peer-run organization that assists those with mental health and substance abuse issues. They have two locations, the first being their Jamestown location at 31 Water Street in the Gateway Center, Suite 7, Door 14, where their hours of operation are 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
Their second location can be found at 601 Eagle Street in Dunkirk, at the Grace Lutheran Church. They are open at that location from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The various programs they offer include men’s, women’s, and co-ed trauma groups, music and art groups to help individuals express themselves, a veterans’ group, and various 12 step support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA).
The MHA’s CRAFT program, which Colaiacovo runs, is a 12-week program focused on helping family members of addicts learn self-care and how to communicate with their struggling family member, with the ultimate goal of getting their loved one to seek treatment. She provides this program both in group settings and in the form of 1 on 1 sessions, which can be provided both at her office and the home of the participant. Caloaiacovo, herself a person in recovery, has found that sharing her own experiences has helped patients to open up to her.
The MHA works to help guide those struggling along the right path to meet their needs, whether it be finding housing, going to rehab, connecting them with primary care, a counselor, or insurance. Their services are free, and they will accept walk-ins.
Above all, the MHA believes that we should be mindful not to judge those in need of or seeking help, and seeks to help overcome the stigma attached to the issue. We are all humans, and it is only through helping one another that we can conquer the issues that plague our community.
For those who wish to learn more about the MHA, they can call (716) 661-9044 or visit mhachautauqua.org for more information.
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