HANDS ACROSS LONG ISLAND

HALI Helps Individuals with Mental Illness Live on the Brightside

HALI employees Jesse Smith and Marie Gruebel speak with group participants who develop skills to lead productive lives.

At Hands Across Long Island, a Central Islip mental heath agency serving individuals throughout Suffolk County, the focus isn’t on the symptoms of mental illness; it’s on the individual and self-directed rehabilitation.

“There are people who have lost hope or any kind of vision for themselves. We took that very seriously and focused on creating a vision that would promote a person’s growth as a human being,” said Ellen Healion, HALI Executive Director.

The case managers at HALI understand because they have been there. The non-profit agency started in 1998, founded by individuals receiving services through the mental health system. They heard similar stories within the community; people felt isolated with little support. They needed a way to connect.

Individuals began self-help groups within state run clinics, which quickly grew to 13 groups meeting at diners on weekends, when clinics were closed.

Recognizing the growing need for social connections within a community setting, HALI founders turned to the state and secured a $15,000 grant to open a Saturday clinic run by people with a history of mental health issues. The program included recreational activities such as pool and ping pong, self-help groups, and an affordable lunch program.

The next focus was housing. In 1991, on the grounds of Kings Park Psychiatric Center, one of three fully operating mental health hospitals in Suffolk at the time, HALI arranged for the affordable rental cottages that housed up to five people in a family-like setting. This set the stage for the more extensive supported housing programs that today serve close to 80 people throughout the county with rental subsidy and assistance with daily living skills, employment and benefits.

Today, from its permanent home on Brightside Ave., HALI serves some 6,500 through advocacy, Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS), law-enforcement and community re-entry programs, outreach and drop-in programs.

When the agency introduces “HALI U” this spring, it will be the first consumer-run clinic in the U.S. operated by individuals in recovery. Designed to help improve individuals’ self-perception, participants will learn recovery and daily living skills, and graduate with a certificate in applied psychiatric rehabilitation.

“When you change a person’s self identification from mental patient to student, a whole world opens up,” Healion said.

“This is their safe space in the community. This is not an institution,” said Healion, noting that guests are expected to take responsibility for their space, help each other and, in some cases, volunteer within the community. “Ownership is key.”

—Karen Anderson Prikios