Recently, Davia Ann Simpson made the challenging decision to admit herself into the hospital due to suicidal feelings and unmonitored schizophrenia. As a mother of five with a background in medicine, she knew she had to do everything possible to get the care she needed.
Unfortunately, Davia had no secure housing conducive to her recovery to return to after her hospitalization. Thankfully, her social worker referred her to Redwood House, Caminar's crisis residential house, where she could find needed stability and support.
Joining the Redwood House community was the first time Davia intentionally addressed her mental health and addiction.
Support with taking steps toward understanding her wellness transformed her quality of life. "I do not know where I would be without the supportive services I am accessing right now. I would be struggling. It makes a difference to have a team behind you," says Davia.
Davia, who is passionate about scrapbooking memories of her children, says that the Expressive Arts Program has boosted her morale. She uses a composition book as an art diary, and it's helped her channel her creativity. "It makes me feel good about myself! Michael is so positive; whenever he comes, he wants to see what I have accomplished, and he talks up my artwork," says Davia about Michael Collopy, Expressive Arts teaching artist and a world-renowned photographer.
Currently, Davia is preparing to transition into a program that will support her recovery from addiction. She shares that she was in pieces before seeking care and is now ready to continue the journey toward recovery. “Anyone can attain what I have attained. I am no more special than the next person. You have to stay positive and focused. You can only go up from certain points," a mindset that Davia says would not have been possible without the help she received from Caminar.
"I have gone through a lot in my life; there has been a lot of struggles, and so when there is something to attain, it makes me a stronger person. Being here has given me something to attain: stronger mental health."
