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Another Way's Philosophy, Goals, and Priorities...
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Green Mountain Support Group Inc. and it's drop-in center/support group/advocacy center known as, Another Way is unique in Vermont as it was, and still is, organized and run by current and ex-mental health patients. Our focus is on informal, personal, hands-on, face-to-face support which is between equals, and therefore empowering. We see ourselves as an extended family, rather than as service providers. The philosophy of Another Way is also unusual in that many of us believe that 'mental illness' is really blown up, but is solvable, through personal growth, problems, and is not a permanent medical condition.
Our strenth is that people trust us because we are also current and ex-patients, and have no desire and to power to control them. We understand because we have 'been there' ourselves. We are outside the system of forced treatment.
Our vision is of everyone as spiritual equals, and that we can be teachers to each other, sharing how we deal with our own fear, anger, depression, sorrow, etc. We feel that the quality of what we do is very very high because of our philosophy, and approach. After all, the time spent with peopleis only as valuable as people feel enriched by it. Many people tell us they feel enriched by our existance. Many people we talk to or who use the drop-in center are, or have taken medications and believe in the medical or chemical approach. Yet we support them in their to be their own judge of what is best for them.
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Quick Facts of Another Way...
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Another Way opened it's door in the early 80's with less than $20,000 per year funding.
Another Way is ran by the Executive Director, Bill Newhall, Assocciate Director Roxy Jason, as well as those people that use the center.
Another Way has weekly Friday night dinners, that are made to feed forty people.
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