My friend Tom Coppinger and the PAC

    Hi everyone
Here is a new blog entry about my friend Tom Coppinger the Director of the Point after club. I met him when I first became a member of the program in 2010, little did I know the impact he'd have on me. He is a fierce advocate, not just for me, but for all of the members of the clubhouse. I look up to him for advice and support when I need it, he is a good listener, and his wisdom of the world is often awe striking. Tom is the kind of person that will stop what he's doing and help others, he cares about the mental health community, he was born to work in his field.
   His knowledge of sports as a whole is neat, I like going on errands with him, and talking to him about Boston sports, or anything that is on my mind at the time. Anyone should feel lucky to cross paths with this man. I know I am incredibly blessed. His mother Rose founded the clubhouse and touched many lives as well. I wish I had met t her, but glad to know Tom and his wisdom. There are plenty of people who don't know about the clubhouse community. I am hopeful to be an advocate and have the chance to speak publicly to those who don't know about how they saved my life. And I know others lives have been saved as well.
   I used to isolate constantly, especially in College, back before I was diagnosed with mental illness. I had gone to classes but after would shut down and stay in my room. When I was first diagnosed in 2009 I didn't think I'd be able to make friends or have a place to go that would understand me. But then I found the PAC and my life was ultimately changed for the better. I have great friends, and the staff as a whole treat me with kindness and care, I don't know if I would have recovered the way I did had it not been for the club and the mental health system as a whole.
    If I had never heard of the club, I probably would have stayed isolated, and been in and out of hospitals. I have had many people who work in the field support me and help me to become who I am. I am grateful for that. I would have not been able to come out of my shell without the help of the club, I know that for a fact!! The clubhouse community is a place to make friends who are also in the same boat, we are good people, we shouldn't be feared or looked down upon.
   There might be some people out there who have the wrong idea of the mental health community as a whole, but I want to work on lessening that fear. I know I blamed myself at first, because I thought I'd lose friends, but I only learned who my true friends are out of it.  I hope those who might have the wrong idea of those who have mental illnesses, realize that we are good people too. I want to make sure that one day there is no more stigma!!