My experiences with City Voices have been nothing short of amazing and life-altering. I was first introduced to City Voices through a wonderful mental health group called Awakenings in 2001, which was facilitated by City Voices’ chief editor, Dan Frey. The support group helped bring me out of the darkness of isolation after a two-year battle with deep depression. Dan encouraged me to start writing for City Voices. What struck me was that City Voices was a publication written by mental health consumers for mental health consumers.
Through my writings, both articles and poetry, I was able to open up about many difficult, personal topics that I normally would not have had the courage to speak about; for example, my electroconvulsive (or ECT-shock) treatments, or my struggles with self-abuse.
I became so empowered through writing that I began to speak publicly to many groups, such as hospitals, psychosocial clubhouses, and mental health agencies. Within two years, I transformed from a person who had difficulty speaking to one individual into someone giving speeches to audiences of 100 or more. Without City Voices, I would never have acquired the strength and confidence to achieve these goals, which have boosted my feelings of self-worth, purpose, joy, and happiness.
City Voices has branched out into many other initiatives, such as the Friendship Squad, the Peer Workers United Support Group, and the Spirituality Support Group.
Another branch of City Voices is their Peers In Person programme, a creative initiative featuring a wide variety of events, so one never knows what to expect. Just some of the varied activities have included a violin concert in Central Park, walking the High Line, gratitude workshops, jiu-jitsu, and even a one-woman (simultaneous) opera/home improvement performance.
City Voices has had a tremendous impact on my mental health journey. It took me two years to get my depression under control some 25 years ago, but even when I had accomplished that, I was not truly living. I had lost all my social skills and become totally isolated. City Voices brought me back to life; alive and thriving. I believe they are one of the main reasons I have not relapsed in 25 years.
I think the most important aspect of City Voices is its emphasis on socialisation and community. Whatever programme you look at, whether it be the Friendship Squad, Peer Workers United Support Group, Spirituality Support Group, or Peers In Person, they are all about bringing people together in a safe, friendly, social environment. And the more I listen and read about the importance of good mental health these days (or the ingredients of a happy life) the more I see that the number one factor, eclipsing even diet and exercise, is social connections. I think City Voices has discovered the “secret sauce” in helping many individuals with mental health issues enhance their lives for the long term.
Kurt Sass is a long-time Komodo dragon enthusiast from northern Myanmar. He speaks Vietnamese with a hint of a Ukrainian accent.