THATCHER — “Everybody deserves a second chance,” said Kristen Johnson with the Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition. “We’re a county of second chances; you don’t see that everywhere.”
Johnson made her comments during a check presentation on the campus of Eastern Arizona College on Friday.
The Safford Lions Club presented $15,000 in grants to four programs, using the proceeds from the last three years of the Mental Health Awareness 5K and 10K, presented by the Safford Lions Club and SEABHS.
“One of the reasons why we started doing it was because the people that have mental health issues were always tucked away in a corner. So what SEABHS wanted to do was bring it out and stop the stigma of mental health issues,” said Mike Garcia, event chair for the Safford Lions Club.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
The Graham County Wellness Court and Student Wellness through the EAC Counseling Department were each granted $5,000. The Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition also received $5,000, split between two programs — The Sunrise Re-entry Program and the Kathy Grimes Caring Hearts Sober Living Facility for Women.
Johnson said mental health issues often lead to drug use, and drug use often leads to mental health issues. And about 90 percent of those who leave incarceration will re-offend, unless they are active in a program such as those that received grants Friday. When engaged in a program, the recidivism rate drops to about 17 percent.
The next Safford Lions Club Mental Health Awareness 5K and 10K will take place Oct. 24 at EAC’s Discovery Park Campus.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
