Share This

June 23, 2015

Hopewell, Through the Eyes of the Interns

At Hopewell we often employ interns to provide a meaningful and educational experience on our working farm. We recently said goodbye to two wonderful young ladies from the Kent State University, East Liverpool Campus. Kristen and Marlene were real assets, and we were sad to see them go. We took a moment to talk with these ladies about their internships while pursuing a degree in psychology or occupational therapy. They received an inside view of the culture at Hopewell and how it all works.

Kristen and Marlene joined us to meet their required first level of field work assignment. They spent five weeks at Hopewell and made 10 visits. They helped with tasks on the farm, arts and therapy projects and interacting with our residents. It is important when pursuing a degree in occupational therapy that you go into the field and learn about the environment at different facilities.

We love the Hopewell community, and we are not surprised that Marlene and Kristen did as well. We encourage equality and not labeling people. We do not have our staff wear uniforms so everyone feels at home. We make sure everyone who walks into our facility is comfortable. It is important to our healing process to instill the feeling of safety and comfort. Our interns noticed this and great it was to see everyone working side by side. Hopewell also champions teamwork as an essential part of the healing process and both Kristen and Marlene became integral parts of our team.

According to the young ladies, their favorite part of their internship was working with the farm art crew. All of the projects were interesting, and it was great to see the residents working to complete their tasks. The ladies also worked with the residents to add some art to their books. They thought it was important to leave a personal touch behind for the residents, who touched their hearts during their time with us.

Lastly, the interns wanted to share the importance of their first field experience after entering college. Working at Hopewell was an eye opening experience about mental illness. Kristen and Marlene noted that the residents seemed and acted very normal. There was no visual way of telling, who was affected by mental illness, yet they could feel the healing that was taking place.

Although mental illness touches everyone’s lives differently, the ladies learned it is important to remember that mental illness does not debilitate patients to the point of not being able to lead full lives. The patients at Hopewell are living life to the fullest. There are some patients who have severe issues and need intensive treatment for the remainder of their lives. There are also people suffering from mental illness who are thriving every day.

We should do our best everyday to help end the stigma of mental illness. Whether an affliction is visible or not, it is simply an illness. And, if you or someone you love is struggling, don’t view seeking treatment as something to avoid. It is an illness that requires treatment. Don’t be afraid to get help. Do what you can to stop labeling people. A mental illness is not a life sentence and shod not be viewed in negative terms.

We want to send a big thank you to Marlene and Kristen for their hard work! We wish you nothing but the best, as you progress in your careers and lives. At Hopewell, we are always seeking volunteers and interns to help assist us in resident treatments and experiences. If you are interested, you can get more information at www.hopewell.cc/volunteer.

Help us end the stigma of mental illness, remember that whether affected by a mental illness or not, we are all human and “person” is the only label we should ever give to each other.