Dina Coughlin, a Baer Reintegration Scholarship Alum and friend of our organization, has been featured on NAMI’s Personal Stories page!
Dina is such an inspiring person, and we are honored and proud to have been able to support her towards her educational goals at Boston College.
Please Click Here to read her incredible story!
Thank you for continuing to inspire our community, Dina!
George Handran and Dr. Ralph Aquila
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of our greatest friend and supporter, George Handran. George was a dear friend of our founder, Dr. Ralph Aquila, and also one of our fiercest and kindest advocates, as he was the visionary philanthropist who was responsible for our generous funding opportunity through the Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation. George passed away on Saturday, December 4th, at the age of 76. We will miss him dearly.
Below is a piece that Dr. Aquila wrote for his friend:
George Handran often referred to himself as a visionary philanthropist. As a trustee of the Sidney R. Baer Jr. Foundation he gave away more money than any foundation has given to the cause of mental illness. More importantly, was the visionary piece. Through his work with Sidney Baer, a man with serious mental illness who quadrupled the family wealth, he learned how serious mental illness need not prevent you from being a success in life. George saw through Sidney, that no one because of their mental illness couldn’t be successful. He funded scholarships for persons with schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder. He funded state of the art brain research. But most importantly, he had a collegial relationship with so many with serious mental illness and encouraged them to continue with their goals. George was a true believer and a loyal friend.
His passion was similar to the arts, in particular supporting young opera singers and following their careers through thick and thin. And if all that wasn’t enough, he had a tremendous interest in genealogy especially about his native Glouchester.
To read more about George, you can CLICK HERE for his obituary, and HERE to read the tribute from another organization that was close to his heart, Fountain House.
Getting Help Without Getting Hurt
A discussion about mandated treatment and what people with serious mental illness, parents, doctors and policy makers can do to change the system.
March 23, 2021
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (EST)
Via ZOOMThis forum will explore the plight of people living with untreated serious mental illness, including the recent rise in reports of homelessness and violence against and committed by this population in subways and other public places.
Panelists will discuss reforms needed to promote treatment rather than tragedy. Topics will include whether lowering the standard of involuntary commitment, mandated treatment (AOT) and additional inpatient hospital beds are needed, or if the mental health system has deeper, systemic problems at the root of why people with serious mental illness do not get the treatment they deserve and need.
The conversation will focus on the changes necessary to ensure that the mental health system provides timely, therapeutic and continuing care to people living with serious mental illness that is on par with treatment and care provided to those with physical health needs.A little bit about our Panelists
Dr. Ralph Aquila - Senior Medical Director of Fountain House, New York and assistant professor of psychiatry at the Weil Cornell school of medicine, New York, New York. Dr. Aquila has 30 years of experience treating persons with serious mental illness, predominately, schizophrenia.
Evelia Davis - Wife, daughter, sister, friend, Doctoral Candidate of Business Administration and Mother to a son diagnosed with serious mental illness. She desires for all to live authentic lives filled with joy, love and purpose.
Dr. Elizabeth Ford - Author and Chief Medical Officer at the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services, former Chief of Psychiatry for Correctional Health Services (CHS) for New York City’s Health + Hospitals, responsible for the mental health care of people incarcerated in the city’s jails, and Director of the Division of Forensic Psychiatry at Bellevue and the Training Director for NYU’s Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship.
Teresa Pasquini - California Mom on a Mission for reforming local, state, and federal mental health systems. As a family member of a son and brother living with serious mental illness, her 45-year lived experience drives her current passion for “Housing That Heals,” the name of a white paper released in May 2020.
Eric Smith - Nationally recognized mental health advocate, public speaker, and consultant. Graduate of assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) whose story has been told in the documentary Stopping the Revolving Door – A Civil Approach to Treating Severe Mental Illness, among other publications.
Our scholarship application may be closed for the year, but apply to the JED Foundation’s Student Voice of Mental Health award for a $3000 cash award. The application is due this upcoming Monday, 3/1. Act now! Check out their website for details! Good luck!
The letters are out! At this time, we have sent all of our responses out to applicants for the Baer Reintegration Scholarship Program for the 2020-2021 academic year. Congratulations to each and every person who took the time to complete the application. Even if you are not a finalist, we commend you for taking the time and effort to go through the process. Please know it is quite common for a scholar to apply with us a few times before receiving a scholarship. We look forward to next year’s scholarship round!
Should you have any questions, or if you have not yet received your letter from us, please feel free to email baerscholarships@reintegration.com.
We are very excited to share another interview with a 2019-2020 Baer Reintegration Scholar! These interviews are meant to inspire our applicants, spread awareness of our program, and commend the great work our scholars are doing. This interview is with V.D.*, who is attending graduate school at an Ivy League institution. Read on and like/comment below!
Center for Reintegration (CFR): What are you attending school for now, and how long have you been in school?
VD: I am currently pursuing a Master’s in global studies at an Ivy League school, researching foreign education policies in Latin America. This is my first and last year for my MA (it’s a one-year intensive Master’s program!) About 5 years ago I obtained my bachelor’s in Communications at a local Catholic private university in New Jersey. I have been out of school for a few years working but am looking to make a career change and decided to get a Master’s before looking for the next steps in my career.
CFR: Can you tell us a little bit about your story of living with a mental illness, for instance how and when you were diagnosed, and how that impacted your life as a whole?
VD: Back in 2004, I was diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder at the age of 13. I was struggling to cope with the stressors of school and studying in an advance class had pushed me past my limits which ultimately triggered my depression. I was first misdiagnosed with clinical depression but subsequent hospitalizations (twice in 2003 and once in 2004) along with a proper diagnosis with a trusted psychiatrist, helped me find the right treatment I needed. As a result, I had to be transferred to a special education school for students with emotional needs all the way through high school until my graduation in 2009.
I had always been an ambitious individual and this setback had affected me in more ways than one. I struggled to maintain friendships due to outbursts and isolation brought on by a crippling depression spanning weeks and months. I kept mostly to myself and took out my anger with my family. Mostly I felt dissatisfied with my life— my illness and at the time the treatment I was given was stifling my potential, and that I’d have to give up on my dream of being at an Ivy League school and having a great job with lots of money (or so I thought!). Ultimately, the things that I perceived as “normal” or part of life were elusive for me because I was not “normal” or could never be. I didn’t realize how far from the truth my perceptions were.
CFR: What effect has your mental illness had on your educational path? Did it interrupt it? Did it shift your course of focus and/or study?
VD: Fortunately, I was able to get back on-track after high school. I was determined to not let my illness affect my studies. I completed my university degree with honors within four years and succeeded academically. I was the receiver of several prestigious scholarships including one for study abroad in Japan, a $10,000 scholarship for achievement in the field of communications, and interned at several recognized publications and media companies. My educational path was not interrupted but it wasn’t easy either. I pushed myself again past my limits and my social life suffered, mostly isolated during my time and still fearing that “dreaded B.” I never once received a B during my time in college, but in some ways, I wish I did. It would have prepared me better for the real world if I failed once.
During the 5 years after graduating, I faced more trials and tribulations than I could have imagined. In the end, a major failure in my career path halted my advances in the workforce. I was forced to reassess my priorities, take a much-needed break, and realized that by trying to fight against my depression to be “normal” I was doing myself a disservice. There’s no such thing as “normal.” Everyone has issues—including those who are perceived to be successful.
CFR: What has helped you most with your recovery and reintegration back to school, work, and life in your communities?
VD: In the long run, however, I’ve had some major success: interning with high-level politicians (presidents and vice presidents of a country), writing speeches for state politicians at a state legislature, and working for a local NYC government agency as their social media strategist. All these successes led me to a U.S.-government sponsored grant at a Caribbean country providing language instruction and planning a campaign for an international non-profit organization. And finally achieving my childhood dream of getting accepted into an Ivy League school—at least for my Master’s!
Now at 28, I look back at my successes and realized that by working with my condition rather than fighting against it, I’ve been able to recover and be reintegrated back to school, work, and life in my community. I make sure to follow my therapist’s and psychiatrist’s instructions: lights out by 10 p.m., limit coffee intake, exercise or walk outside, reach out to family and friends if needed, take medication as prescribed. My being Bipolar does not mean I’m crazy but rather it’s just like any other illness. It’s part of my life but it is not my identity. I am and have always been just like everyone else.
CFR: How did you hear about the Baer Reintegration Scholarship Program, and what motivated you to apply?
VD: I heard about the Baer Reintegration Scholarship Program during my sophomore year of college. I was a frequent student at the disability services office and my advisor there recommended me to apply. Since then, I’ve been a recipient of the Baer Reintegration twice. First in 2011, and this year.
CFR: How has being a Baer Reintegration Scholar impacted your education and your life?
VD: Financially, being a Baer Reintegration Scholar is a huge relief. Currently, as a full-time student, the much-needed support from the scholarship program has helped me focus less on tuition payment and more on my studies. However, that’s not without saying how proud I am to be a part of the program. The Baer Reintegration Scholarship has given me a new outlook on life—especially when it comes to my condition. It has empowered me to take ownership of my disability, be comfortable in who I am, and ultimately to give back in some way to others who have gone through the same.
CFR: What career goals and life goals do you have once you have graduated from your program?
Hopefully, once I finish my degree, I plan to either work for a non-profit on advocacy or apply to law school (more schooling!). But the biggest change I hope to make is giving myself the time to have fun! I hope to get to know more people, make new friends, and hopefully settle down and start a family in the next few years.
CFR: What advice would you give to someone who has just been diagnosed with a mental illness?
VD: The best advice I can give someone who has been recently diagnosed with a mental illness is:
1) You are still you no matter what. Your illness does not define you and you are more capable than you realize to achieve your dreams. Think of it as a minor setback. Get the help you need and you’ll be back on track where you need to be.
2) Everyone has a different journey, do not compare yourself to others. Each person has issues and the worst thing you can do is compare yourself to other “normal” people. In fact, there is no such thing as normal; it’s basically a social construct.
3) Life is rough and education is only one part of your journey. Take the time to have balance in your life (date, hang out with friends, visit family). Don’t worry too much about the outcomes and just live in the present moment.
4) Extend your network for support. During the rough times (and we all have them!) reach out to friends and loved ones who can help. It can mean the difference between a ‘bad day’ and a full-on relapse.
5) Take ownership of your health and put as much effort as you can on improving your wellbeing.
CFR: What advice would you give to someone applying for the Baer Reintegration Scholarship Program?
VD:The best advice I can give is to be yourself. I do not think there is a right way to present yourself in the application. Be honest and authentic by not only showing who you are and your struggles, but also how you’ve overcome then. The Baer Reintegration panel/committee wants to know your story and your commitment to reintegration.
CFR: Is there anything else that is important for you to share with the Center for Reintegration community?
VD: I had a unique situation where I had the right treatment early on for my illness which helped me stay on track academically like most youth at the time. Yet, this doesn’t necessarily mean that I did not struggle or did not have setbacks along the way in my career. Just like I’ve had successes, I’ve also had plenty of failures and as such do not want to present myself as a successful person. I consider myself a work in progress and encourage others with a mental illness to follow their own path. Find what you love and are passionate about, set out and plan and go for it! You’ll be surprised at how much you can do when you take a leap of faith and chase after your dreams.
Thank you so much to our current scholar for taking the time to answer our interview questions, especially in the midst of the fall semester. Comment below to show support, and if you are a current or past Baer Reintegration Scholar and would like to share your story, reach out to us at baerscholarships@reintegration.com!
*Name has been changed to protect scholar’s anonymity.
Have you seen the new Amazon Prime series Modern Love? If you are able to, check it out! It is based off of essays from the wonderful NY Times column with the same title.
Most interestingly, episode three stars Anne Hathaway as a woman who is living with bipolar disorder. Lexi, who was diagnosed with the illness when she was in high school, struggles with dating, work, and at times just existing in society. Although some reviews found that Hathaway “over-acted” this was a poignant and very real depiction of what living with this illness is like.
My favorite part was how the episode ended. After being let go from her new job (for being unreliable, is what I can guess), Lexi finally reveals to a former coworker/supervisor that she has bipolar disorder. The catharsis she seemed to feel once her diagnosis is out there is contagious. She calls old coworkers, boyfriends, and friends to explain why she may have behaved unpredictably in the past, and the level of understanding she received was very positive, and very hopeful. In the end Lexi was stable, on proper medication, and ready to begin a new chapter of dating in her life. What stood out to me was the point that isolation is not the answer. Having bipolar disorder is not something to be ashamed of, it is a piece of a person to be shared as they see fit within the bounds of their own comfort level, but it should never be something to feel shame over.
I have one critique of the episode. When she explained her diagnosis, she said “I’m bipolar” instead of “I have bipolar disorder.” Each person is so much more than any diagnosis they have, and it seems that mental health conditions take over a person’s entire persona when phrased this way. Lexi is also a successful lawyer, a daughter, a redhead, and more (outside of what the episode can include). A diagnosis is a part of us, but it does not define us!
It is always refreshing to see real yet inspiring, relatable, and positive portrayals of individuals living with mental illness, and we will continue to highlight those here. Please check out the episode and let us know what you think in the comments below!
We are kicking off our new scholarship application season on #WORLDMENTALHEALTHDAY! We are very excited to accept applications from our wonderful community of students living with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. For inspiration and motivation to anyone interested in applying, read below to hear a firsthand account from one our current scholars!
Nothing is more inspiring to us at Center for Reintegration than a scholar discussing their journey of recovery and education. Read on as one of our 2019-2020 Scholars shares her amazing story.
Center for Reintegration (CFR): What are you attending school for now and how long have you been in school?
Dina (D): I started school in the summer of 2017 and I will be graduating this spring, very exciting! I am a Communications major at Boston College. I will be receiving a liberal arts education. My personal focus is television production.
CFR: Can you tell us a little bit about your story of living with a mental illness, for instance how and when you were diagnosed, and how that impacted your life as a whole?
D: I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder when I was nineteen and I was diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder in my early thirties. I am currently thirty-seven years old and I have struggled with some form of mental illness (anxiety, depression) my whole life. At the age of nineteen, I was forced to drop out of college and be institutionalized. I struggled to face my problems and ended up going to several different facilities until things finally came together for me in New York. I was enrolled in a program where I was slowly re-integrated back into mainstream society. I also began to face my issues. This period of time lasted for 10 years! I truly thought that my life was over. However, my ability to dream about the future and my determination not to be another statistic in the world of mental health catapulted me forward. I have made great strides in overcoming the obstacles that were set before me.
CFR: What effect has your mental illness had on your educational path? Did it interrupt it? Did it shift your course of focus and/or study?
D: My illness affected my education in a big way and put me a decade behind my friends. As mentioned previously, I was forced to drop out of college in upstate New York after just one semester. I could no longer deal with the stresses of life. The extreme anxiety and depression that I had endured my whole life had now manifested itself in physical pain, I was experiencing excruciating headaches. Now, in 2020, fifteen years after the year that I was supposed to graduate college, I will finally be receiving my Bachelor’s Degree. However, though my path to my higher education was severely disrupted, I am still going after my life-long dream of working in the entertainment industry. I believe it was this dream that kept me going through the years when I felt despair and hopelessness.
CFR: What has helped you most with your recovery and reintegration back to school, work, and life in your communities?
D: Re-integrating society after a ten year hiatus has certainly had it difficulties. As we all know, mental illness and a proclivity to it, is never truly cured. It follows you everywhere and you live and struggle with it every day. My Borderline Personality disorder rears its ugly head every time I get overwhelmed with the critic in my mind. “You are not good enough.” You are not pretty enough.” “You will never amount to anything.” “You will never find true love because you don’t deserve it.” These are the kinds of thoughts that I deal with on a regular basis and, to be honest, they are exhausting. I attribute my success to the many supports I have in my life and to the acknowledgement that I will never be totally free from the inner critic. I think once you can face that then you recognize that you will struggle every day but you learn to push through it to have real success.
CFR: How did you hear about the Baer Reintegration Scholarship Program, and what motivated you to apply?
D: I heard about the Baer Reintegration Scholarship through my psychiatrist. He told me that I would be a great candidate because of the obstacles I have overcome. He told me that people who take the medication that I take usually do not live the life that I lead. He told me that I was different. It is because of my personal experience that I have wanted to be an advocate for mental health for a long time. I wanted to apply for this scholarship because, if I were to win it, I would prove to myself and others that it is possible to live a successful life with a mental illness.
CFR: How has being a Baer Reintegration Scholar impacted your education and your life?
D: Now that I am a Baer Reintegration Scholar, I have been able to use the scholarship money to pay for my education. This means that I will not have any loans to pay back and I am extremely grateful for that. Through receiving this scholarship I have gained confidence in myself and my abilities.
CFR: What career goals and life goals do you have once you have graduated from your program?
D: My career goal would be to get into television production when I graduate this spring. However, my main life goal is to be happy and to learn to love myself. The illnesses that I have dealt with have made this nearly impossible. I look forward to the day when I can look in the mirror and love the person on the other side. I want to feel independent and capable of handling my own life. Graduating this spring leaves a lot of unknowns and this causes me anxiety. However, as I look to the obstacles that I have already overcome it allows me to see that I am not the same person I was at nineteen. I am concerned about the future but also very excited to see how the story of my life plays out.
CFR: What advice would you give to someone who has just been diagnosed with a mental illness?
D: I would tell someone who has just been diagnosed with a mental illness to not let the illness define who they are or what they can achieve in life. It is just a title and with the right medication and counseling, living a normal life is completely within their reach. Try not to feel sorry for yourself and think about erasing the stigma that surrounds mental health. Embrace everything that you are and everything that you want to be and, just go for it! Do not let a mental illness be the reason that you fail to achieve your dreams.
CFR: What advice would you give to someone applying for the Baer Reintegration Scholarship Program?
D: I would tell someone who was applying for the Baer Reintegration Scholarship that you need to remain positive about the process. There will be many applicants and you will want to make yourself stand out. If you are chosen for this scholarship you become a voice for those suffering with mental illness and this is a huge honor and responsibility. Therefore, you should make sure that the people that you reach out to for recommendations know all the work that you have done to reintegrate to society and how difficult this process can be. You should also be painfully honest in your essay. However, if after all this, you do not win the scholarship it does not mean that your story is not worthy of being told. Remember that, in order to erase the stigma around mental illness, we all need to share our stories.
CFR: Is there anything else that is important for you to share with the Center for Reintegration community?
D: I want the Baer Reintegration community to know how grateful I am for the opportunities that have been awarded to me because of your generosity. I am so glad that this Scholarship exists and I think that its mission to help people to reintegrate to society is wonderful! I sincerely hope that opportunities like this will help to eliminate the negativity and shame that surrounds those who have been diagnosed with a mental illness.
Thank you!!
If you are a past or current Baer Reintegration Scholar and you would also like to share your story with our online community, please email Bevin at baerscholarships@reintegration.com! Thank you Dina!
This month, the Center for Reintegration's Executive Director, Dr. Ralph Aquila presented at the mhGAP Forum in Geneva at the headquarters of the World Health Organization. Along with Kenn Dudek, the president of Fountain House, Dr. Aquila spoke about proven methods that reduce the rates of excess mortality among those living with serious mental illness.
As the Medical Director of Fountain House, Dr. Aquila is instrumental in the success of Fountain House's approach to improving the lives of the mentally ill. That approach includes integrated medicine and wellness, along with housing support and a community-based mental health setting where individuals can go each day to find purpose, along with assistance in aspects of life such as employment, education, healthy lifestyles, and socializing. Clubhouses like Fountain House are replicated and located all over the world. You can search online for one near you by clicking HERE.
Stay tuned for more news of Dr. Aquila and Fountain House's involvement with the World Health Organization's mission to promote more awareness around mental health. To read more about Dr. Aquila and Mr. Dudek's experience in Geneva, click HERE.
At the Center for Reintegration, our Baer Reintegration Scholarship Program exists to help individuals further their education. For many of us, school provides a place and purpose each day that is so integral to recovery. By showing up each day, challenging ourselves to achieve our academic goals, and pursuing new paths, we are taking steps towards ending the stigma of mental illness, and strengthening our own mental wellness.
