October 30, 2025

By Michael Dunn, Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Connections

At Mental Health Connections, connection is not just part of recovery — it is recovery. After my first year as CEO, I’ve seen this truth lived out every single day. Our model is built on one simple idea: when people feel seen, valued, and supported, healing begins.

Over the past year, I’ve witnessed how our members transform through connection, structure, and purpose. When people ask what makes Mental Health Connections different, I tell them: “We don’t treat mental illness. We build a community around recovery”.

It’s not only about access to resources; it’s about belonging. It’s about being part of something that gives life meaning again.

I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Donald over the past year and witnessing his remarkable growth.

When Donald first came to the Clubhouse, he carried the weight of childhood trauma, anxiety, and depression. Years of instability and the isolation of the pandemic had left him unsure where to turn.

A friend encouraged him to visit Connections House, (formerly known as Putnam Clubhouse) and that small act of connection changed everything. Here, Donald found a safe place to belong, supportive peers who believed in him, and the chance to rebuild his confidence one day at a time.

“The Clubhouse not only gave me life,” he told us, “it saved my life.”

Today, Donald works in peer support and hopes to pursue a master’s degree to bring the arts and mental health together. Proof to me that connection leads not only to recovery, but to new beginnings.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), serious mental illness in the U.S. leads to an estimated $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year. A reflection not only of illness, but of disconnection.

In my first year with Mental Health Connections, I’ve seen what research confirms: when people are surrounded by supportive relationships, they experience fewer hospitalizations, greater employment stability, and stronger self-confidence.

At Mental Health Connections, every shared meal, every conversation, every small victory helps rebuild that bridge between isolation and belonging.

As I reflect on my first year, I’m inspired by what I’ve seen. Lives rebuilt, confidence restored, and hope renewed. Connection takes time, patience, and presence. But it’s the most powerful investment we can make in people, in their growth, and in their humanity.

When we build community, we’re not just supporting recovery. We’re giving people a place to call home.

Michael Dunn

Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Connections

We Don't Treat - We Build Community

Donald's Story: The Courage to Begin Again

Why Connection Matters

An Investment in Humanity