Housley's Survey Success

Ever since he was a child, Tim Housley remembers being hyperactive for weeks on end, coupled with days of extreme sadness and despair that kept him bedridden.

"I always was an emotional kid," Housley explained, "but I had no idea I suffered from mental illness until I was an adult."

Housley was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in January 2003. The diagnosis only surfaced due to the help from staff at Maryhaven who were treating him for alcohol abuse.

"I'm so thankful they sent me to NetCare. I finally found out what ailed me - and discovered that it could be treated," he said.

Because of the depressive-manic swings he continually experienced, Housley had trouble holding down a steady job. He'd accompany his mood swings with drinking binges, which helped calm his mania. Finally, the cycle stopped when he lost his job in December 2002 and couldn't find anywhere else to turn but Maryhaven. From Maryhaven, he was sent to NetCare, which set him up with a case manager at North Central Mental Health Services - all ADAMH-funded agencies.

With the direction of his case manager, Housley was sent to COVA (Center of Vocational Alternatives) where he was given the opportunity to take a part-time job at the ADAMH Board. He was a consumer surveyor who called consumers that have gone through the ADAMH system of care and asked questions about their experience. Housley credits his experience at ADAMH as the springboard for his continued success.

"ADAMH was such a different environment than I was used to," he said. "We had a great break room, you could tell that people appreciated you and I was working an office job - something I never thought I could do."

After completing two rounds of consumer surveys for ADAMH, Housley went back to COVA to find further employment. Just by chance, COVA itself was in need of help and Housley was eager to accept. Today, he serves a part-time receptionist for COVA and attends Columbus State Community College where he is earning his degree in nursing.

"The ADAMH system offers a continuum of services, from crisis treatment to vocational training," ADAMH CEO David Royer said. "Tim is a great example of how the ADAMH system of care can help through every step of recovery."

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 more than 40 not-for-profit providers and offered on a sliding-fee scale, making them affordable for any county resident, regardless of income.