Posted on Jun 21, 2016

Dashawanda Cole was having suicidal thoughts. “I didn’t think I’d actually act on them,” she recalls, now 18 months later, “but I was scared of myself. I didn’t feel safe.” She went to HCMC’s Acute Psychiatric Services and asked for help.

There, at the psychiatric emergency room in downtown Minneapolis, the staff gave her everything she expected – and more. They conducted a thorough psychiatric evaluation and provided appropriate medication. Then they lined her up with Mia Debbins, a community health worker.

Among the recovery resources Debbins offered Cole in the days ahead? A pathway to a job.

Dashawanda received support from Rise’s Employment Consultant Caitlin Engen. Read the full story online.