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Blog2026-02-26T08:14:00-05:00
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From Heroin to Hope: Steward’s Recovery Journey

Steward, a 77-year-old Philadelphian, is a fixture in Rittenhouse Park. A stroll with him is never just a walk; it's a social event. At every turn, he chats with neighbors and friends. His jokes have perfect Philadelphian timing, and he laughs with ease. Steward’s compassionate nature stems from decades of personal recovery and from helping others overcome substance abuse. His journey offers insights for people struggling with substance abuse or concerned about a loved one using opioids. At 17, Steward began injecting heroin. His first overdose took place in his sister's bedroom. His parents did everything possible to help him, but Steward continued to use heroin. "I was in a vortex of despair," Steward recalls. "I had so much shame. [...]

February 3rd, 2025|
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The Recovery-Focused Transformation of an Urban Behavioral Health Care System

Recovery is the process of pursuing a fulfilling and contributing life regardless of the difficulties one has faced. It involves not only the restoration but continued enhancement of a positive identity and personally meaningful connections and roles in one’s community. Recovery is facilitated by relationships and environments that provide hope, empowerment, choices, and opportunities that promote people reaching their full potential as individuals and community members.

How are You Feeling Today?

“I’m going in for a check –up.” Typically we think of check-ups as they relate to our physical health – be it our cholesterol, blood pressure, or weight. We want to take it one step further and encourage you to get a “check up from the neck up." Coined by Patrick Kennedy, encouraging folks to get a “check up from the neck up” is one of our missions.  We want everyone to feel comfortable touching base with how they are feeling.

Breaking the Silence: MHFA Training

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a groundbreaking public education and early intervention program that helps the public identify, understand and respond to signs of behavioral health challenges. MHFA will be available at the "Breaking The Silence on Mental Wellness: Real Talk, Real Help, Real Solutions Conference” on  April 4th and 5th, 8:00am-6:00pm, at Temple School of Medicine 3500 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140. This conference is focused on addressing stigma related to behavioral health within the African American community. Over 50 diverse workshops geared toward a wide variety of audiences. Behavioral health screenings will be provided to conference participants as part of Saturday's resource fair.

I Will Listen

The national anti-stigma campaign #IWillListen is coming to Philadelphia! #IWillListen is based on the belief that through listening and understanding everyone can play a role in reducing the stigma associated with mental illness.

Welcome to Healthy Minds Philly

When it comes to physical injuries or illness, there is an abundance of sources of information, both online and offline, to guide you to the help you need to get better. Websites, books, family or friends, there’s always somewhere you can turn to. But information and resources about mental illness can be a lot harder to find. It’s not surprising, then, that there are a lot of misperceptions when it comes to behavioral health challenges. Here at DBHIDS, we’re aiming to change that.

Healthy Minds Philly is an initiative of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, City of Philadelphia

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