HHS celebrates hope and resilience during National Recovery Month

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Behavioral Health

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) celebrates National Recovery Month this September, as proclaimed by Gov. Doug Burgum. This month, HHS's Behavioral Health Division aims to raise awareness about programs and services that support people in recovery, celebrate North Dakotans and their family members in recovery, and recognize the dedicated individuals who provide the prevention, treatment, and recovery support services that make recovery possible.

"As we celebrate National Recovery Month, I am reminded of the incredible strength and resilience shown by those in recovery, as well as the unwavering dedication of the individuals who support them every step of the way," said First Lady Kathryn Burgum. "Recovery is not just a personal journey; it's a community effort that touches the lives of families, friends, and neighbors across North Dakota. This month, let us all come together to raise awareness, offer support, and ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to achieve lasting recovery."

The First Lady's key initiative, Recovery Reinvented, is a movement to end the shame and stigma surrounding the disease of addiction in North Dakota.

This month offers an opportunity for North Dakotans to learn about recovery resources for themselves and loved ones; take their first steps towards recovery; celebrate their own recovery; recognize behavioral health providers; and to participate in the monthlong statewide initiative, Recovery Rocks, by painting rocks and creating recovery rock gardens, reinforcing the concept that recovery matters, is worth it, help is available and to promote ending the stigma around seeking help for recovery.

"There are many different pathways to recovery," said Lacresha Graham, HHS manager of addiction treatment and recovery program and policy. "It's important that our state and communities offer support for each person's individual path to wellness."

Programs and Services Supporting Recovery

The Behavioral Health Division collaborates with community-based agencies to provide services that assist people seeking recovery from behavioral health conditions, including mental health and substance use disorders (SUD), and brain injury. Some key programs and services include:

• Community Connect: Offers quality, community-based behavioral health services through care coordination and peer support.
• SUD Voucher Program: Reduces financial barriers to accessing treatment and recovery services for eligible individuals.
• Recovery Talk: Provides free, confidential support through trained peer support specialists available 24/7. Call 701-291-7901.
• North Dakota Brain Injury Network: Supports individuals with brain injuries.
• GamblerND: Supports North Dakotans with concerns related to gambling.
• Help is Only Three Numbers Away: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, launched nationally in 2022, connects individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis to trained crisis counselors. North Dakotans can also call 211 for crisis help, with both numbers answered 24/7 by FirstLink. This campaign also promotes 911 as the emergency line when seeking first responder dispatch.

Human Service Centers

The agency's eight regional Human Service Centers (clinics) provide community-based behavioral health and crisis response services to North Dakota citizens with mental health or substance use treatment needs.

Celebrating and Supporting Behavioral Health Professionals

National Recovery Month also honors the transformational work of behavioral health professionals. HHS encourages everyone to celebrate these dedicated individuals and share inspirational stories about their experiences in helping others achieve their behavioral health goals.

"Our regional human service centers play a vital role in supporting individuals on their recovery journey," said Dan Cramer, clinical director, North Dakota's regional Human Service Centers. "By providing access to community-based services and crisis response, we ensure that North Dakotans have the resources they need to achieve and sustain their recovery goals. National Recovery Month is a time to honor the strength of those in recovery and to reaffirm our commitment to helping every individual find their path to wellness."

Recovery Rocks Statewide Initiative

In line with this year's theme, "Healing Through Art," HHS introduces the Recovery Rocks, a statewide community engagement initiative aimed at celebrating recovery and reducing the stigma around seeking help for substance use and mental health support. HHS is encouraging individuals across the state to paint rocks with messages of hope, resilience, and recovery that reflect their personal journey or connection to recovery.

Several Human Service Centers throughout the state, along with other behavioral health partners are joining in on creating Recovery Rocks rock gardens and offering opportunities for rock painting. Additionally, the HHS Behavioral Health and Children and Family Services Conference scheduled for Sept. 16-19 at the Bismarck Event Center will include an opportunity for attendees to decorate a "recovery rock" while visiting with peer support specialists who have their own recovery stories as well as work to help others with their recovery.

Individuals, community providers and groups are encouraged to submit their Recovery Rocks photos, activities and recovery stories to HHS through the form at hhsnd.site/RecoveryRocksNDShare.

More information

For more information about available recovery programs and services, visit hhs.nd.gov/behavioral-health or contact the division at (701) 328-8920, 711 (TTY), or [email protected]. Learn more about behavioral health crisis services at hhs.nd.gov/behavioral-health/find-services.

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