Dear Friends and Associates,
After several long years of periods of depression, despair, and hopelessness,
I came to a point of not wanting to live anymore. My options seemed futile with nowhere to turn. Fortunately, I received support from kind
souls, friends, peers, counselors, family members, and psychiatrists. Eventually, I wanted to live again, and to
live with passion and abundance. My struggles
have been transformed into strengths and gifts to help others. I became part of an emerging group of
psychiatrists that are embracing the recovery model and also President and Co-Founder
of Recovery In Action International (RIA). Chris
Camilleri
On December 24th, 1995, sitting on the beach alone diagnosed with Schizophrenia
feeling as if there was nowhere to go, I faced utter darkness and despair. It
was a moment like this that had me consider bringing my life to an abrupt
close. The pain is just too great especially at this time of year. How many
others are facing this kind of hopelessness right now. That was many years ago and through the support of my family, dedicated mental
health professionals and advocates, I found that
recovery was possible. Today I live a life filled with satisfaction and commitment
to others. As the Vice-President of
Recovery In Action International and my company
Comeback Kid Peer Coaching, we share our stories of recovery, restoring hope
and the reality of a better day. Bobby Burke
A
Gift to RIA can lift the spirits of those with mental illness and give hope to many
who are desperately seeking a chance to be a full contributing member of the community.
As
we conclude this very productive year we have found that understanding is the
greatest gift to give to another. When a person knows we understand and that we
are committed to help release them from the stigma and shine the light of hope
in their direction, Recovery In Action International
is achieving our mission.
During this holiday season, there are many who are
struggling with their symptoms, diagnosis, and despair, needing others to let
them know they are not alone. Recovery In Action
International was that someone for Tiffany Keeler and many people who have
heard our recovery stories, visited the website, attended our educational
programs in the community and our special events.
RIA is very proud of the many presentations
we have given to physicians, therapists, clients, and students in the mental
health field in the community, hospital settings, as well as colleges, who have
heard our message of recovery loud and clear. We are also working diligently on
the RIA Peer Coaching Program to begin next year.
In September 2010, the following letter was received
through the RIA website, and it deepened our awareness that Recovery In Action International was touching the heart and soul of
those we serve. Here are excerpts from the letter we received.
Hello,
I have been reading through your website, and the more I read, the more it resonates with my own story--the
struggles to find my own path, the realization that my recovery is so different
than what I had learned when I began treatment, the fight against stigma both
outside of and within the recovery community, the importance of tools aside
from the typical "meds only" approach...
I work for an organization in Riverside County, CA that uses recovery
principles to serve people diagnosed with mental illnesses. I've been certified
as a Peer Support Specialist. But the largest change has come in the past two
years, after deciding that I couldn't live with the consequences of treatments
some man in a lab coat made for me. After taking my life, treatments, coping
mechanisms and spirituality in my own hands, I have found what I would truly
call recovery.
Thank you, whoever is reading this. Thank you for working toward a world in which people like me don't have to be
shoved into a box and told that this is where we'll live for the rest of our
lives with no hope of ever getting out of it again. Tiffany Keeler
When you choose to give to
RIA you will be helping many more people realize the truth of their potential. Please
print out the attached form and send it to us with your end-of-year tax
deductible contribution. With your generous gift, Recovery In Action International can spread the word and continue to support the truth
about mental health and the need for a new paradigm. We are dedicated to
telling our stories of recovery. We are the evidence that people can get
better, defy the impossible odds and
live the
life of their dreams. Thank you for your support and best wishes from RIA to
you and your families for a wonderful holiday season
and a
Happy New Year!
Peace
and Blessings,
Recovery In Action International
Christopher
Camilleri, M.D., Psychiatrist, President
Bobby
Burke, Peer Advocate, Vice-President
www.recovery4all.org Voicemail-562-912-3998
