Cases of depression, trauma, anxiety, addiction, and suicide have become rampant. The POSITIVE RESTORATION center provides counseling and support for individuals experiencing mental health issues.
At the center, counseling will be provided by Master level licensed and non-licensed mental health professionals. School-based counseling services will address trauma-focused therapy, crisis intervention, and building social skills. With over ten years of experience, we can identify the needs of our communities, and we desire to do more in helping citizens who are in crisis, the homeless, and displaced due to Hurricane Ida, to help primary schools that lack school counselors and social workers, who are in high demand for counseling services. The organization targets four parishes in Louisiana – Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, and St Mary Parish.
POSITIVE RESTORATION has a mission to provide low-income and homeless youth and adults with access to healthy food, clothing, emergency housing assistance resources, mental health counseling, resources, and referrals that go beyond the basics to support vulnerable populations in maintaining restoration. We want to educate and provide resources and mental health services in the home, school, and community. We hope to sensitize individuals, predominantly the middle-aged, about the causes of mental illness and help them achieve positive mental health.
The organization currently provides temporary housing assistance, food, clothing, hygiene items, gas, toiletries, and school uniforms. However, we aspire to incorporate counseling services for which counselors would be paid to go in the community and provide mental health psychoeducation services in the homes, schools, and society, as well as counseling services that address the crisis, trauma, depression, and improving self-esteem.
Mental illnesses can be acute or chronic and are diagnosable conditions that affect an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being and often their behavior. These conditions include depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and mood or personality disorders.
Louisiana has a population of approximately 4.7 million people, and about 3.6% of adults in Louisiana (according to SAMHSA) live with severe mental health conditions.
According to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 1 in 5 people experience a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year—for Louisiana, this is an estimated 650,000 adults and 245,000 children. Today, the number of individuals suffering from mental health illnesses has increased. This is because situations that promote the risk factors of mental health illness occur more often, with some cases more severe than others. Generally, mental illness is usually due to mental stress or any form of pressure the brain undergoes.
Several risk factors are responsible for the increase in adults with mental health issues. Some of these factors include:
Genetics: Mental illness could be hereditary, often running in some families.
Environment: Unhealthy living conditions can lead to the development of mental illness. Poverty or having an abusive family puts a lot of pressure and stress on the brain and can often trigger mental illness. Mental stress can lead to emotional and mental symptoms like anxiety or irritability, depression, panic attacks, and sadness. The poor and the needy are mentally stressed with the pressure of making ends meet so that they may afford their family’s basic needs. The parents and the children are both stressed, but the severity of this stress differs. In some homes, it may cause both or one of the parents (usually the father) to become a bitter and angry father, always being brutal to their children. In this case, the children might, in turn, become fearful, depressed kids or sadists. In extreme cases, the child may grow up with childhood trauma, another factor causing mental illness.
Childhood trauma:
Stressful events that occur during childhood can also impact mental health. The most common causes of childhood trauma include:
- Accidents
- Bullying or cyberbullying
- Chaos or dysfunction in the home (such as domestic violence, a parent with mental illness, substance abuse, or incarceration)
- Death of a loved one
- Emotional abuse or neglect
- Physical abuse or neglect
- Separation from a parent or caregiver
- Sexual abuse
- Poverty
- Sudden and serious medical conditions
- Exposure to violence or crisis situations
Experiences like these can traumatize an individual, especially when similar situations occur again, or the individual remains in such environments.
For example, a child involved in a road accident that resulted in the loss of both parents may later develop fear or anxiety related to driving or being in a vehicle due to painful memories associated with the experience. Many children between the ages of 0–10 have faced difficult circumstances—from flooding that has made them homeless to violence that has made them orphans, or financial hardship that has disrupted their education.
POSITIVE RESTORATION desires to wipe the tears on the faces of young people and adults by giving them hope again through counseling and support to achieve positive mental health while also helping meet their basic needs.
Negative thoughts:
Negative thinking can be influenced by painful past experiences and can affect how individuals view themselves and the world. These patterns can interfere with daily functioning and may be associated with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, personality disorders, and schizophrenia.
Unhealthy habits:
Unhealthy habits such as overthinking, lack of sleep, or poor nutrition can also contribute to mental illness.
Drugs and alcohol:
Drug abuse and alcohol use can trigger or worsen mental illness. While they may seem to reduce tension, they often make problems worse. Alcohol and caffeine can increase anxiety and make recovery more difficult.
There has been an increase in substance use. This foundation aims to educate adults, youth, and children about the dangers of drug abuse, discourage substance use, and support individuals through rehabilitation toward an addiction-free life.
POSITIVE RESTORATION visits schools to provide counseling and guidance on substance abuse and recovery.
COVID-19 Impact:
COVID-19 has negatively impacted mental health for many individuals in Louisiana. In February 2021, 47.5% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. The pandemic created fear and uncertainty, while changes such as remote work and schooling increased loneliness and stress.
Suicide Awareness:
Suicide, often linked to negative thinking, depression, or anxiety, is one of the leading causes of death among individuals aged 15–29.
Many lives could be saved with access to timely help, support, and awareness. POSITIVE RESTORATION works alongside existing mental health organizations to create awareness and support families affected by suicide.
People with mental disorders may die 10–20 years earlier than the general population due to preventable physical conditions. Good mental health contributes to better physical health.
POSITIVE RESTORATION is devoted to helping individuals achieve positive mental health by providing counseling, support, education, and access to essential resources.
We are committed to restoring hope, supporting recovery, and improving the quality of life for individuals and families in our communities.
Ready to make a positive difference in your community? Contact us today to learn how to get involved or access the support you need.