November 25, 2025

By Michael Dunn, Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Connections

As the season of gratitude arrives, I’ve been thinking about what dignity and connection really mean in mental health. Not as labels or systems, but as something we experience in how we’re seen, heard, and valued.

At Mental Health Connections, our work begins the moment someone feels safe enough to be themselves. Welcomed without judgment, treated with respect, and encouraged to take part in a community where every story matters.

I’m reminded every day of the journeys of two members, Debby and Fred.

Michael Dunn

Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Connections

Belonging That Transforms

Why The Need Is Real

Across the nation, the need for connection and support has never been greater. Recent data show that more than one in five U.S. adults experience symptoms of depression within a two-week period, and nearly 90% of those living with depression say their symptoms make daily life more difficult.

These are not just statistics. They represent our friends, neighbors, and families, all wanting the same things Debby and Fred found at Mental Health Connections. A place to belong, to be seen, and to rebuild hope.

Gratitude in Action

Every shared meal, every conversation, every small act of kindness in our Clubhouse reflects what happens when people support each other and connect. Because of your generosity, hundreds of adults like Debby and Fred have a place to call their own. A place to connect, contribute, and thrive, surrounded by dignity, laughter, and purpose.

As we celebrate the spirit of togetherness, I’m filled with gratitude for all who make this possible. Because when someone walks through our doors and feels “I belong here,” that moment alone sets the stage for hope, healing, and renewed purpose.

Together, Debby and Fred remind us what belonging can do. How, when people feel accepted and valued, they don’t just recover; they blossom.

Their stories are just two among many, but they capture something universal. The deep human need to be seen, supported, and part of something meaningful. Every day at Mental Health Connections, I witness how community transforms isolation into hope.

Fred’s path was quieter, marked by solitude and a question of whether he still had something to give. But from his very first visit, he was met by patience, encouragement, and a team that said: you matter. “If you don’t know how to do something, someone teaches you,” he once said. Words that echo what our community is all about. I’ve seen Fred live out that belief, lending his powerful voice to our daily announcements and sharing his love of astronomy in quiet conversations that remind me how connection heals. Today, he’s the one welcoming others, offering the same kindness and confidence that helped him rediscover his worth.

When Debby first came to the Clubhouse, she was emerging from years of instability. Her brother encouraged her to visit, and what she found was a place without stigma. A space where friendship, laughter, and learning replaced isolation. I’ve had the joy of hearing Debby share her funny stories, watching her dance and sing, and seeing the light she brings into the room each morning with her beautiful smile. “This is the place to be,” she often tells me. “We make friends, we learn, and we build community.”