CLIENT APPRECIATION LUAU HELD AT JEROME GOLDEN CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN RECOGNITION OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
West Palm Beach, FL (June 13, 2016) — The tastes and talents of Hawaii took center stage at the Jerome Golden Center for Behavioral Health on May 18 when Mr. Jerry and Dr. Barbara Golden sponsored and hosted a Hawaiian luau for the Center’s clients who participate in our Outpatient Day Program including, Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Day Group programs. The clients enjoyed the event; they dressed in bright Hawaiian clothes and wore colorful leis, enjoyed the delicacies, participated in a costume contest, and sang and danced to music provided by DJ and staff member, Christopher Drakeford.
”It was great to see the clients smiling, singing and I especially loved the dancing,” said Heather Tate-Boldt, MSW, Supervisor of Discovery Day Treatment and Partial Hospitalization Services. “We are constantly seeking new ways to expand our recreational programs to include safe and fun activities for people with mental health disorders. We are so grateful for Mr. and Dr. Golden for hosting the luau and making our clients feel important,” continued Tate-Boldt.
The luau was one of several events that the Center held during May to help remove the stigma often associated with mental illness. Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been celebrated each May. The luau was an opportunity to let the clients know they are appreciated and that “They Matter”. “You Matter” is the new theme of the Center’s Clients’ Rights Initiative Campaign.
Everyone in attendance shared in the Aloha spirit. According to the old kahunas (priests), being able to live the Spirit of Aloha was a way of reaching self-perfection and realization for our own body and soul. Aloha is sending and receiving a positive energy. Aloha is living in harmony. When you live the Spirit of Aloha, you create positive feelings and thoughts, which are never gone. They exist in space, multiply and spread over to others. “Aloha” means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. “Aloha” is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence. “Aloha” means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable.
The Golden Center provides treatment to adults and children with mental health and/or substance use disorders helping them restore and maintain their productive lives in the community. Its mission is to help clients build resiliency, facilitate recovery and achieve reintegration into the community by designing and delivering behavioral health care services that meet their needs and expectations.
Learn more about the Golden Center’s programs and services at www.GoldenCtr.org, Facebook at JeromeGoldenCenter, Twitter @JeromeGoldenCtr or by calling 561-383-5723.