Steppingstone, Inc. presented "Wake Up!", an event to celebrate National Recovery Month in the atrium of Government Center on September 30, 2016.  Recovery Month is a platform to celebrate people in all forms of recovery and those who serve them. Sponsored by SAMHSA, the event is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those in recovery, just as we celebrate health improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. The observance reinforces the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover. Click here for a 16-minute video of the event. For further information or to make a donation anytime, contact Kathy Clark at 508-674-2788, Ext. 110.  

(Top row) People gather in the Government Center atrium on a rainy Friday afternoon, including Fall River Health and Human Services Director Henry Vaillancourt, MD, right, to listen to stories of recovery. (Rows two, three and four) Steppingstone Men's House Supervisor Ron Norfolk and Executive Director Kathleen Schedler-Clark listen to the recovery testimonies along with the audience. (Bottom row) Steppingstone employee Michael Brayant describes the event on camera as displays provide tools to fight the stigma against substance users.