Momentum Center is making an impact
Grand Haven TribuneNov 18, 2019
Through recreational and social activities, events and outings, the
According to the 2017 Ottawa County Community Health Needs Assessment, 17 percent of adults reported having a depressive disorder and 15 percent reported having an anxiety disorder. About 15 percent of youth have thought about suicide in the past year, and almost 40 percent of those youth have made an attempt.
Although effective medical treatments exist, 60 percent of people with a mental illness never get treatment, according to the
The Momentum Center is a grassroots movement aimed at creating a stigma-free community. It does this by hosting community conversations and operating
The beginnings
From Inspire! events focused on marginalized populations to town hall meetings with panelist presentations and community conversations, feedback led to discussions and the creation of the
The Momentum Center serves youth ages 11 and older and adults with mental illness, addictions and other disabilities. There's an annual
Within the Momentum Center,
Ben, a Momentum Center member, said he feels like he's found his "second home."
"It's a place where I can go to be myself and not have anybody judge me," added Lisa, a Momentum Center member. "It's a safe place. No stigma."
Data reflects positive change
Since opening two years ago, members are reporting a positive change in their lives.
Upon becoming members, individuals can voluntarily take a survey that includes questions about their well-being. Mental health experts developed the questions as a way to quantify the severity of various challenges like anxiety.
Every six months, they're followed up to identify changes and evaluate program effectiveness. Some members also participate in interviews to help provide a broader qualitative context for the data.
The Center's efforts to identify impact are possible through collaboration with
Recent findings suggest that members who reported symptoms associated with moderate to severe depression, anxiety or loneliness, saw significant improvements since joining The Momentum Center.
Members who reported moderate to severe depression upon joining, reported mild depression symptoms, on average after 1-year. In technical terms, their mean PQH-9 score dropped from 14.43 to 9.85 during their first year (seven members reporting), a 31 percent reduction. The same severe to mild transition occurred with anxiety (28 members reporting).
Jose said the Momentum Center has helped him go through hard times.
"It heals my heart so much. It really does. People treat me like another human being," added Andrew, who is a Momentum Center member.
What's next?
The Momentum Center is working to publish their data, revise data collection tools, measure how it builds personal resilience, and share their model with other communities.
The model can be replicated in other communities as a compliment to mental health clinical and therapeutic services to improve the quality of life for people who struggle with mental illness, disabilities and addictions.
"Being intentional in this relationship allows for early identification and referrals for clinical and therapeutic care, provides a space for healthy connection between therapeutic appointments, and returns individuals to healthy community for sustained wellbeing at any time care is considered to be completed," she said.
For more information, contact VanHorssen at barbara@momentumcentergh.org or 616-414-9111.
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