Mental Illness Treatments Result in Life-Enhancing Opportunities
August 30, 2005
Contact: Todd Harper
Phone: 317-630-7808
Pager: 317-310-5972
Indianapolis, August 30, 2005 - When Leigh Massing was 14 years old, she and her parents knew something wasn't right. As a freshman at Ben Davis High School, Massing had been active in the marching band and played on the tennis team, but her thoughts were elsewhere.
Growing up in an upper-middle class family with caring and supportive parents, Massing had a bright future ahead. Unfortunately, just when most teenagers were preparing to learn to drive and starting to think about college, Massing was diagnosed with an illness that would change her life forever.
After seeking medical attention on the suggestion of her parents, Massing was diagnosed with having a mental illness. Several years of frustration followed as she tried to cope with her disorder and find the right treatment options to control her symptoms.
"The reality is anyone can get a mental illness," said Massing. "The key is to get help."
For Massing, stabilizing her illness through medication and counseling has resulted in a more enjoyable and productive life. Massing, who now lives on her own in an apartment in Indianapolis, has worked for the past six years at Unique 7 Christian Care, a daycare facility located off Crawfordsville Road. Some of her job responsibilities include cooking, mentoring the children and chaperoning daycare field trips.
"Leigh is an awesome employee who is always willing to do whatever is asked of her," said Carlene Moore-Archie, executive director of Unique 7. "She is someone anyone involved in childcare would want to have around because she is so committed to doing her job."
Cathi Covalt, an employment consultant for Midtown Community Health Center, a division of Wishard Health Services, has assisted Massing in her employment needs for the past nine years. She said Massing's situation stands out because of the impact the disease had on her life just when she was preparing to enter adulthood.
"Leigh was on her way to college and big things when all of a sudden mental illness happened," Covalt doesexplained. "The one thing people need to realize is once mental illness occurs, it doesn't have to be the end of your life. Leigh has shown that."
Midtown's supported employment program works with clients like Massing to help improve their marketable skills, thus increasing their ability to gain employment. Through supported employment, interview skills are developed, and client support is provided as long as it is needed.
Covalt said it took a few years before Massing found a job that fit, but since joining the daycare, everything has run smoothly.
"We do an assessment for each client to make sure we find the best job match possible. For Leigh, we've found a great match," Covalt said.
At 42, Massing has a network of friends whom she enjoys being around, and she receives continual support from her family, including mother Barbara. Some of her favorite recreational activities are taking walks at the Greenwood Park Mall, camping with friends and attending church.
The stigma of mental illness can often cause people to avoid seeking help for themselves or their loved ones. Covalt stressed that it is important to understand that effective treatments are available that can reduce or eliminate symptoms, improve a person's ability to function and significantly improve quality of life.
Midtown Community Mental Health Center was established in 1969 as the first mental health center in Indiana. Midtown and its family of outreach services and residential facilities have sought to meet the challenges of integrating patients into society through community-based care. Midtown's array of mental health and counseling services include severe mental illness and substance abuse, 24-hour emergency services, detoxification unit, geriatric and nursing-home consultation, full continuum for chronically addicted patients, specialized home- and community-based programs for seriously emotionally disturbed children and adolescents and a partial-hospitalization program.
For more information about Midtown Community Mental Center, please call (317) 630-7791.