Ringler Partners with ADAMH System

Four years ago, Ellen Ringler was hungry, homeless and in need of treatment for her diagnosed depression. Today, Ellen is working full-time, has a place of her own and acts as an advocate for the mental health community at the ADAMH-funded organization, Partners in Active Living.

Ellen, originally from West Virginia, worked as a teacher's assistant for an adult education program. She was diagnosed with severe depression and was utilizing the care available in her community. After realizing that the mental health services in West Virginia were not able to provide the help she needed, Ellen moved to Columbus. Here, she became homeless and lacked proper care for her illness.

After becoming involved with several community organizations during her homelessness, Ellen learned of NetCare Access, the front door to the ADAMH system of care. At NetCare, Ellen was connected with a caseworker who found her housing and a treatment program for her substance abuse problem. The connection with NetCare prompted Ellen to learn of several other local programs in the Columbus area.

"The program that really helped me through the rough times was BRIDGES, a 15-week course taught by consumers to consumers like me," Ellen said. "BRIDGES opened my door to recovery."

Shortly after BRIDGES, Ellen began working at Mount Carmel West in the laundry department. At the same time, Ellen started volunteering at Partners in Active Living, an ADAMH-funded organization that is run by mental health consumers and specializes in peer support. Through social activities, workshops, and peer encouragement sessions, Partners allowed Ellen to work on her own recovery, while helping others that shared similar problems. Today, Ellen works at Partners full-time.

"I feel the key to anyone's recovery is working with fellow consumers," Ellen said. "The peer one-on-one interaction brings an element to recovery that no other part of rehabilitation can offer."

Ellen credits several people as mentors during her struggles.

"My initial motivation came from the former director of Partners, Eric Ladd," she explained. "He was doing so much for the mental health movement and that inspired me to become an advocate and peer supporter as well."

Ellen also found members of the ADAMH Board to be a beneficial member of her support network.

"Jason Lai, ADAMH's consumer advocate, has been extremely helpful with my recovery," she explained. "He helped me join the Consumer and Family Advisory Council of which I currently act as vice president. Now I'm out there everyday advocating for the people who still need help."

Partners in Active Living is an ADAMH-funded, mental health consumer-operated non-profit corporation that employs adult mental health consumers to provide one-on-one peer support services to other adult mental health consumers. Other social support services, including social clubs and a telephone peer support warm line, are offered for adult mental health consumers to reduce isolation and promote recovery. To get in touch with Ellen or another member of the Partners in Active Living team, contact Partners in Active Living directly at 298-0974.

ADAMH is Franklin County's authority for planning, funding and evaluating mental health, alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment services. ADAMH-funded services are provided by a local network of not-for-profit providers and offered on a sliding-fee scale, making them affordable for any County resident, regardless of income.