Category: Articles

Having Pride… Even When the World Feels Overwhelming

It’s June again, and Pride month this year may feel uniquely challenging for many in our community. For some, this month brings bold feelings of empowerment. For others, this time may feel darker, scarier, and overwhelming – especially when facing personal struggles that can make celebrating feel difficult.

The Reality We Face

Though being part of the LGBTQ+ community is in no way a mental illness, many people who identify as LGBTQ+ experience mental health struggles. About 4.5% of the US population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Of these individuals, 39% report living with a mental illness – that’s nearly 5.8 million people in the US alone who need support.

The challenges extend far beyond mental health awareness. A majority of people who responded to a survey conducted by Mental Health America say that they or someone they love who is LGBTQ+ have been threatened, harassed, or experienced violence due to their sexuality or gender identity.

The employment discrimination is staggering: 59% of respondents feel they have fewer employment opportunities or have experienced discrimination in pay due to their LGBTQ+ identity. This economic instability directly impacts housing security and overall well-being.

In addition, 22% of transgender individuals reported avoiding medical care out of concern about discrimination. This avoidance of care compounds existing challenges and creates cycles that are difficult to break without comprehensive support.

Breaking Down Barriers to Care

When it comes to mental health care and housing services, a lack of cultural understanding, stigma, and discriminatory practices can decrease the quality and effectiveness of support. This leaves individuals feeling unsupported and discourages them from seeking the help they desperately need.

A housing first approach recognizes that stable housing is fundamental to addressing mental health, employment, and other life challenges. For LGBTQ+ individuals facing multiple forms of discrimination, finding safe support becomes even more critical.

We’re Here for You

At Thrive in Hendersonville, we welcome all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, or economic status. To us, people are people. Everyone has a unique background, perspective, struggles, and needs that deserve respect and comprehensive support.

Our programs are designed to meet you exactly where you are, providing individualized care to help you build a foundation for stability and growth.

Our Housing Program provides support for neighbors experiencing homelessness. Our case managers work one-on-one with clients to discover their unique needs and create a plan for the best chance of success.

Our Clubhouse Program offers a mental health day program for adults diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness. This program provides a supportive environment where all identities are celebrated, not stigmatized. Our day program serves as a vital resource for building connections and developing skills to reach individual goals.

Both programs work with each person to create personalized plans that address their unique circumstances and goals.

Additional Resources for LGBTQ+ Support

For more specified help, here are a few national resources that may help:

Remember, Pride isn’t just about celebration – it’s about resilience, community, and the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance. Whether you’re facing housing challenges, mental health struggles, or simply need a supportive community, you don’t have to navigate these challenges alone.

Want to learn more about our programs or how you can get involved? Contact us at 828-697-1581 today.

A group of people throwing confetti and laughing with a rainbow pride flag in the background.

The NC Housing Coalition has released the 2025 county profiles.

Each year the North Carolina Housing Coalition releases comprehensive county profiles that provide insights into housing conditions across the state’s 100 counties. For Thrive’s Housing Program, these profiles shed light on the housing challenges in Region 2, which includes Henderson, Polk, Rutherford, and Transylvania Counties.

The biggest county we serve in terms of clients is Henderson County. Henderson has a Fair Market Rent of $1,512 for a two-bedroom apartment. This means a full-time worker would need to earn $29.08 per hour to comfortably afford housing.

In contrast, Rutherford County has a lower Fair Market Rent of $930 for a two-bedroom apartment. However, residents would still need to earn $17.88 per hour to make this housing affordable. This rate is 2.5 times the state’s minimum wage, highlighting a critical affordability gap. In practical terms, no full-time minimum wage worker could independently secure a one or two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent.

The cost burden tells an equally compelling story. In Henderson County, 26% of households spend more than 30% of their income on housing—a significant financial strain. The neighboring counties show similar patterns: Transylvania and Polk report 25% of households as cost-burdened, while Rutherford sits at 23%.

These numbers are more than statistics—they represent real challenges faced by families and individuals in our community.

For a deeper dive into housing conditions, we encourage you to explore the North Carolina County Profiles at https://nchousing.org/county-fact-sheets/

Thrive Celebrates Pride Month!

 

Two women standing arm in arm waving pride flags. There is a title that says "Happy Pride Month!"

Trigger warning: This article discusses mental illness, substance abuse, and suicide. Please take care of yourself and avoid reading if these topics could be triggering.

June is here, bringing the start of summer, warm sunny days perfect for outdoor activities, and a beautiful array of rainbow flags to celebrate Pride Month! As we embrace this season of joy and individuality, it’s essential to recognize the unique challenges the LGBTQIA+ community faces daily.

Mental Health and the LGBTQIA+ Community

Did you know that approximately 4.5% of the U.S. population identifies as gay, lesbian, or bisexual? Mental health is a significant concern within this community, with over 39% of LGBTQIA+ individuals reporting having a mental illness in the past year – that’s roughly 5.8 million people! This high prevalence is linked to social stigma, discrimination, and the denial of civil and human rights, often leading to psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and suicide. The transgender community is particularly vulnerable, especially given the often unstable and hostile political climate. In the last year, 48% of transgender adults reported having considered suicide, compared to just 4% of the overall population.

Homelessness and Housing Instability

The stigma and discrimination faced by the LGBTQIA+ community extend beyond individual mental health. In 2022, 28% of LGBTQIA+ youth reported experiencing homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives. This alarming statistic often stems from rejection by caregivers or parents due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Additionally, fear of discrimination or harassment from community resources or peers can make seeking support difficult.

Thrive’s Promise

At Thrive, we are dedicated to ending the stigma. Our services are open to everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. We believe there should be no barriers to stable housing and mental health support, and we are here to help our community thrive.

As we celebrate Pride Month and the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community, we encourage everyone to hold space for those who may be struggling with their mental health. If you or someone you know could benefit from Thrive’s services, please reach out to us at 828-697-1581.

Happy Pride!

Honoring Mental Health Awareness Month: Promoting Wellness and Recovery in Western NC

Green ribbon stretches across the screen with "May is Mental Health Awareness Month" as the title

May is a special month for all of us at Thrive and for communities across the nation. Since it’s establishment in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) has been dedicated to raising awareness about the crucial role mental health plays in our overall well-being. For over 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has led this important initiative, providing valuable resources and information to support individuals and communities in need.

As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the importance of mental health in our lives. Mental wellness is just as vital as physical health, and this month serves as a reminder that recovery is possible and should be celebrated.

At the Clubhouse Day Program, we are proud to be part of this movement. Our program supports adults with severe and persistent mental illness, helping them learn essential skills, set and achieve personal goals, and build meaningful relationships. By providing a safe and supportive environment, we empower our members to thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

This May, we encourage you to join us in raising awareness and advocating for mental health. Whether it’s sharing resources, participating in local events, or simply having an open conversation about mental wellness, every action counts. Together, we can create a community where mental health is prioritized and celebrated.

If you or someone you know needs support, please give us a call at 828-697-1581 to see if the Clubhouse is a good fit!

Let’s use Mental Health Awareness Month as an opportunity to connect, support, and inspire each other. Remember, mental health matters every day of the year, and together, we can make a difference.

#YouMatterHendo

Celebrating 56 Years of the Fair Housing Act

On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B Johnson signed into law the Fair Housing Act, marking a pivotal moment in the fight for civil rights. This landmark legislation made discrimination in housing illegal, with Johnson declaring that “fair housing for all – all human beings who live in this country – is now a part of the American way of life.”

This Act, in its current form, protects individuals from discrimination when buying, renting, or securing financing for housing.

Today, 56 years later, housing advocates continue the battle for fairness in housing, striving to uphold the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

Initially, the Act safeguarded against discrimination based on five characteristics: sex, race, color, religion, and national origin. In 1988, it was amended to include disability and family status as protected classes. Different states and regions have personalized this list to fit their needs. North Carolina further extended these protections by adding several additional characteristics, including:

  • Sexual orientation
  • Gender identity
  • Citizenship status
  • Age
  • Military status or service.

This means that individuals cannot be discriminated against due to any of these factors when seeking housing in various settings, including group homes, apartments, single-family homes, migrant housing, shelters, or long-term transient lodging.

While the Fair Housing Act represents progress, we still have work to do to ensure its effective implementation. In 2022, there were a staggering 33,007 reports of housing discrimination – the highest number of complaints received in a single year to date.

Thrive’s Housing Program

At Thrive, we strive to secure safe and permanent housing for everyone. If you or someone you know is currently experiencing homelessness, please check out the details of our housing program and reach out to us at 828-697-1581 to join our by-name waitlist.

We also invite landlords interested in making a positive impact in the community to partner with Thrive. Click here to review our Landlord Information Booklet.

Join us in commemorating 56 years of the Fair Housing Act and our ongoing commitment to creating inclusive and equitable housing opportunities for everyone.

It’s Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month!

March has been officially proclaimed as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month by Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina, and we’re honored to be part of this crucial initiative!

Developmental disabilities are lifelong conditions that typically arise in childhood and can affect various aspects of an individual’s life, from communication to independent living.

Some examples of developmental disabilities include:

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Down Syndrome

It’s staggering to think that approximately 16 million Americans live with developmental disabilities. Nearly 200,000 of these individuals live in North Carolina alone. With developmental disabilities affecting so many people, raising awareness is critical. It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure they have access to the resources they need to thrive!

At our Clubhouse, we’re dedicated to empowering those with developmental disabilities to build essential life skills, foster relationships, and take charge of their well-being. Through our programs, we create a supportive environment where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential!

This month, we challenge you to take a moment to think about how you can make a difference in the life of someone with a developmental disability. Together, let’s work towards a more inclusive society where everyone is valued and supported!

To read Governor Cooper’s proclamation, click here.

For more information about Thrive’s Clubhouse Day Program, click here.

To learn more about developmental disabilities, visit some of the resources below:

Behavioral Healthcare in Hendersonville – What are your options?

How is your mental health these days? I bet if someone asked you that question, you would probably have quite a lot to say on the subject. I would also guess that your answer may change from day to day, and maybe even moment to moment. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown everyone for a loop and brought to light many challenges in most of our daily lives. For some folks, mental health has really been difficult to maintain since the onset of the pandemic and the many stressors that have come along with it.

At Thrive, our main focus is mental health. We believe that it is really difficult to be successful in many areas of life if your mental health is suffering, so we work hard to help our clients get the mental healthcare they need. One thing we are seeing since the pandemic started, is an increase across the board in people who report symptoms of mental illness. Prior to the pandemic, the number of people who reported symptoms of mental illness each year was about 1 in 5, or 20%. Throughout 2020, that number increased to 30% of people reporting symptoms of mental illness. More people are struggling than ever before, which is totally understandable when you consider the conditions we have been living with for the past year and a half. The question becomes, then, what can be done to improve people’s mental health?

Thrive offers help for people with severe and persistent mental illness at our Clubhouse Day Program. This program has been providing mental health services in Henderson County since 1983, and the program has helped hundreds of people to move from surviving to thriving in the community. At the Clubhouse, staff work side-by-side with members with a focus on “doing with” rather than “doing for.” Clubhouse staff know how important it is for members to have a voice and a say in the day-to-day decisions. At the Clubhouse, members work to improve vocational skills, learn daily living skills like cooking, and learn how to have healthy relationships. Members experience fewer hospitalizations and law enforcement contacts as a result of attending the Clubhouse.

While the Clubhouse is great for some people, it isn’t the right fit for everyone who is experiencing symptoms of mental illness. Thrive is so thankful for our community partners who also offer people help with mental healthcare, like AdventHealth. AdventHealth offers both in-patient and out-patient treatment options for behavioral healthcare in our community, which means that patients can easily access the level of care they need to be well.

At AdventHealth, there is a focus on Whole-Person Care – body, mind and spirit. On the website, AdventHealthNC.com, you will see many references to Whole-Person Care as they describe the many services offered to strengthen the body, mind, and spirit and encourage overall wellness. The behavioral health care services offered at AdventHealth are extensive. There are options for individual, group, and family therapy, pediatric and geriatric psychiatric services, relaxation therapy, therapeutic crafts, and many others. They have psychiatrists and psychologists available and they offer in-patient and out-patient services for behavioral health. They also offer Primary Care Behavioral Health which provides seamless access to behavioral health care for patients who share concerns with their primary care providers. Primary care providers, who often have a long-term and trusted relationship with their patients, can play a key role in assessing the need for and providing behavioral health interventions.

In August, AdventHealth expanded this collaborative care to even more patients through a partnership with Concert Health. AdventHealth Hendersonville was a pilot for this program. “It has been a dream come true to embed this facet of patient care within our offices,” said Kelley Singer, MD, director of physician quality and physician enterprise for AdventHealth Hendersonville. “Patients visibly relax with relief as they learn behavioral health professionals practice within the same location. The willingness to engage with our psychiatrists or psychologists is almost 100% now, contrasting with almost never in the past.”

Hendersonville is so lucky to have multiple options for mental health care available in our very own community, but we have to spread the word! It is crucial that we ensure people actually know about their options for mental health. We need to make sure that people know who they can call if they need help or if they are concerned about the mental health of a loved one. Share the information; talk about it with your friends and family. Let’s normalize mental health care, so that anyone who needs help knows who to call and is not afraid to ask for help when they need it.

AdventHealth – A Great Community Partner to Thrive!

The staff and board members at Thrive are getting ready for our biggest fundraiser of the year – 9th Annual Bids & Blues on October 12. This year has been a very strange one with COVID and all sorts of events being cancelled or made virtual. Thrive has decided to make this event in-person, but a Drive-In where people can come and listen to music from their car. Thrive staff are very excited that we have found a way to keep this event in-person, but still safe for the people attending, and we have all been hard at work to find sponsors for the event and raise funds for Thrive’s essential programs.

Thrive is so incredibly thankful that our presenting sponsor for Bids & Blues will again be AdventHealth. When asked why AdventHealth has chosen to support Thrive at the highest level yet again, Assistant to the President, Graham Fields, replied with the following quote:


“AdventHealth is honored to partner with Thrive to address Behavioral Health needs in Henderson County. This growing whole-person care need was identified as a top priority in the AdventHealth Community Health Needs Assessment. In addition to serving clients through our inpatient Women’s Behavioral Health unit and outpatient behavioral health clinics, AdventHealth also partners with Thrive to enhance the county’s community-based mental health system to fully support relationship-based, personalized care and maintain services for the chronically mentally-ill in the area. Thrive also helps address another priority in the Community Health Needs Assessment through its efforts to connect clients to safe and affordable housing in the community.”

We at Thrive are so humbled by these words, and we are so thankful that we have a partner like AdventHealth Hendersonville to help us work toward better mental health in Henderson County. Many people do not realize how extensive the incredible mental healthcare services are at AdventHealth. AdventHealth Hendersonville offers both inpatient and outpatient Behavioral Health services, including care specifically for patients of their Primary Care Providers. Through this innovative model of care, AdventHealth’s Primary Care Behavioral Health Providers work with the established patient’s primary care provider for those who are 18 and older and experience behavioral health concerns, including depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis.

Many of the individuals who receive behavioral health care at AdventHealth Hendersonville also attend the Thrive Clubhouse – a day program for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. At the Clubhouse, members can get help with daily living skills, relationship skills, and work skills. The services members receive at the Clubhouse work hand-in-hand with behavioral healthcare services from AdventHealth Hendersonville to provide that whole-person care that Fields mentioned.

AdventHealth Hendersonville has some unique inpatient care options, including a behavioral health unit dedicated to women only, ages 18 and older. AdventHealth’s Women’s Behavioral Health Unit offers all private, newly renovated rooms and a variety of treatments including:
Depression
Dual Diagnosis/ Drug Addiction
Anxiety and panic attacks
Bipolar disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Trauma
Co-dependency
Grief and loss
Dissociative identity disorders
Sexual abuse issues

Another amazing offering from AdventHealth is the Inpatient Geriatric Behavioral Health unit, which is currently being renovated. This service offers a full range of behavioral and mental health services to assist older adults ages 55+ through the difficult circumstances that many aging adults face. Treatment includes individual and group therapy as well as medication management to improve the patients’ ability to live independently or function comfortably in an institutional setting. Because many older adults with behavioral or cognitive disorders also suffer physical distress, the Geriatric Behavioral Health program at AdventHealth offers a comprehensive assessment of medications, physical and psychiatric diagnoses and assessment of functional abilities.

Thrive would like to say thank you, once again, to AdventHealth Hendersonville for their continued support as the presenting sponsors of the 9th Annual Bids & Blues. If you would like to attend this exciting event, purchase your tickets today. Find more information about Bids & Blues at https://thrive4health.org/welcome/bids-blues/.

To learn more about AdventHealth’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Services, please call 828-650-8232. For information about our Inpatient Behavioral Health Services, please call 828-681-2288.

Important Upcoming Changes to Thrive

Thrive Services to Change This Year with a Major Focus on Service to Adults with Mental Illness via the Clubhouse

Local nonprofit will continue to remain an independent nonprofit in Henderson County.

Hendersonville, NC (6/25/2015) – Thrive recently received notification from Smoky Mountain LME/MCO regarding a phasing out of their Assertive Community Treatment Team services. By the end of 2015, Thrive will no longer be able to provide these services, per their contract with Smoky Mountain LME/MCO. Executive Director Kristen Martin, while saddened by this news and the potential impact it will have on their clients, has issued a statement to the community that addresses current and future services offered by Thrive.

“The Clubhouse has been serving mentally ill adults since 1983, bridging an important gap in mental health services in Henderson County. Thrive formally organized in 2006, but for over 20 years has been focused on assisting individuals who are experiencing mental health symptoms get back on their feet, via programs that provide opportunities to learn coping, social, independent living, and vocational skills. We will continue to fill this gap through our Clubhouse, meeting our clients where they are and serving them in the best environment possible. We are grateful for the support our community has shown us over the years and we look forward to remaining an independent, sustainable nonprofit. We will work with our ACTT clients and Smoky Mountain to ensure a smooth transition of our ACTT clients to a new service provider.”

Thrive is going to remain an independent non-profit serving adults living with mental illness in our community. They will continue to provide the majority of their services through the Clubhouse in Hendersonville and encourage the community to join them this fall for their annual Bids & Blues fundraiser to be held September 13 at the Cove at Highland Lake. “Bids & Blues is our signature event completely focused on raising funds to support the Clubhouse. This year, more than ever, we ask the community to rally behind us to keep the Clubhouse open and thriving for the clients who need us most,” said Martin.

Local community leaders have already begun to hear this news and are voicing support for Thrive. “Hendersonville is known as a friendly, welcoming, caring community. That caring attitude extends to those of our citizens who are living with mental illness. Thrive is able to provide needed services, at a reasonable cost, in the community. Their clients can get the services they need at the Clubhouse-close to home and with people who care about them and their families,” said Barbara Volk, Mayor of Hendersonville.

Wear Your Label, Fashion Duo Tackles Mental Health Stigma

“A year ago, we were just two students in university living with mental illness. Stigma kept us from getting better, and reaching out. It wasn’t until we began talking about our experiences that we realized the need to create more conversations.” 

This quote could have been taken from any of the countless students living and dealing with mental health issues while also balancing work, school and, well… life.  This particular quote comes from the Canadian fashion-loving duo, Kyle MacNevin and Kayley Reed, two young entrepreneurs determined to spark – and keep lit – the conversation about mental health.

MacNevin and Reed met while studying at the University of New Brunswick and became friends under perhaps slightly less-than-common circumstances.  They didn’t meet in a statistics study group, or in the same residence hall, or at a football tailgate; these two met through a youth mental health outreach initiative.  Here, they came to the profound conclusion that young people need to be able to open up and shamelessly talk about their mental health needs. Both MacNevin and Reed have personal experiences with mental illness – one struggled with an eating disorder, the other with social anxiety.  They helped each other learn how to comfortably and openly talk about their voyage through the struggle.  Now, they want to share their experiences and their vision with the world.

Using their combined fashion expertise, MacNevin and Reed launched a start-up company called Wear Your Label, a clothing company with clever slogans like “Stressed but Well Dressed” and “Sad but Rad”.  They donate 10% of profits to mental health projects and, to date, have given about $4K!  They have also become advocates in the mental health world, speaking at various locations to share their story.  The goal behind their innovative brand is to stop the stigma that regrettably too often comes along with a diagnosis.

Wear Your Label - Tag pic

One of the coolest things about this brand is perhaps the part of the clothing that you don’t see.  Inside each garment is a tag that, rather than stating standard care instructions (“machine wash cold, lay flat to dry”), it gives some care for yourself instructions (“40% stretch, breathe, meditate; 30% sip tea & eat well; 15% feel your feet, be present; 10% laugh out loud; 5% listen to an awesome song”).  These suggested coping techniques are meant to be self care reminders for when the wearer is experiencing a mental health symptom, such as anxiety or depression.  Because, as the t-shirt states, “Self Care Isn’t Selfish”.

MacNevin and Reed hope their message can help to prevent tragedies like the numerous recent cases of students who have taken their own lives, many of whom never talked openly about their inner struggle.  This original way to say, “It’s okay to not be okay” can be a conversation starter and may help young people to be more open with parents, friends and classmates about their mental health needs.

So what can you do to start the conversation? You can reach out to someone who is having a hard time; you can share your story, a smile, or a cup of tea; you can listen without judgment, and share without fear of being judged.  One in four people will experience a diagnosable mental illness each year.  You are not alone.

For more information on Wear Your Label, go to http://wearyourlabel.com/