May is Mental Health Awareness Month

RECOGNIZING MENTAL HEALTH MONTH AT CALVARY

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to shine a spotlight on the critical connection between mental health and homelessness.

In Washington, DC, nearly one in three people experiencing homelessness report a history of mental illness. For many, limited access to behavioral health care contributes to prolonged or chronic homelessness. At Calvary Women’s Services, we see these challenges firsthand, and we meet them with compassion, expertise, and care.

In honor of the month, women at our Reach Up and Good Hope programs gathered for a wellness workshop led by one of Calvary’s passionate client therapists, Schwanna Qualls. The workshop’s theme was mental health in the workplace and also tackled the importance of self-care.

“I wanted the women to just have open space where they can talk about some of their challenges and how it impacts their work environment if they’re working. But if they’re not working, how it impacts them in general. Because mental health is so, there’s so much variety in it,” Schwanna shared.

Schwanna Qualls at Reach Up Workshop

These workshops are just one way Calvary makes mental health care more accessible and affirming. Every day, women in our programs access free, on-site behavioral health services designed to support their healing and long-term recovery.

In 2024 alone, Calvary provided over 750 therapy sessions with licensed therapists.

Through individual and group therapy sessions, as well as substance use recovery programming, licensed mental health professionals help women manage conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. These services empower women to reclaim their well-being, build resilience, and move forward with hope and stability.

The session created a safe space for clients to speak freely, reflect on their personal growth, and learn about practical tools to help navigate mental health challenges. For Schwanna, this work is personal. “Mental health really is my life. I’ve always wanted to do this. It’s been something that’s been at the core of me since I was a teenager. So what I know now that I didn’t know before—I would say is that life is full of twists and turns. And you never know what side you’re going to be on, whether you’re going to be in a facility or on the street or in your house with your last paycheck. You just don’t know until you know. And that’s scary and powerful all at the same time.”

One client who attended the session reflected on the experience and how it helped her gain clarity:

“I suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome as well as manic depression, bipolar, as well as anxiety. So that in combination with being a recovering drug addict and escaping a domestic abuse relationship, which landed me here at Calvary. That session really meant a lot to me. It provided me with some answered questions.”

“It’s encouraging to know that it’s not a moral deficiency, that it is in fact a disorder and it can be treated in multiple different ways, and that somebody sees me. That’s more of what I kind of gathered from today, that I am seen, I can be heard.”

While May brings national attention to mental health, Calvary is committed to breaking down stigma and providing vital support all year long.

In the spirit of prioritizing spaces of reflection and connection, Calvary continues to seek resources and partnerships that center our client’s well-being. This month, Junior League of Washington awarded a Calvary with a Community Assistance Fund Grant. This generous funding will support on-site therapy, helping women in Calvary’s programs access critical mental health services.

The Junior League of Washington has been a longtime partner in our mission, providing monthly meals, volunteer support, and consistent encouragement. We’re grateful for their continued commitment to the women we serve.

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT CALVARY’S MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER PROGRAMS THIS MONTH

If you would like to contribute to services like these this month, you can donate to our Give Greater DC campaign. This is a day for sharing stories of positive change in our community. Whether you give a little or a lot, every show of support counts. Support Calvary by sharing our campaign and making a gift if you can. On May 28, let’s create the change we want to see, together.

Donate here: https://bit.ly/givegreatercalvary

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