c/o McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, de Marneffe Building, Belmont MA 02478
Tel. 617 855-3298     -    Fax 617 855-3666    -     Email resctr@tiac.net
Supported in part by McLean Hospital and Partners Psychiatry and Mental Health

My name is Bob and I am extemely grateful for the services offered to me at the Cole Consumer Resource Center. I suffer from treatment-resistant depression and everyday is a test. I was very isolated and had few social contacts when I first began volunteering at the Center. Over time, my self-esteem and confidence grew, as I became involved in projects, such as Writer's Club, Movie Club and lunchtime chitchat. The Center even invited me to help write its mission statement.

Today, I am working fulltime, have a girlfriend and I am further along in my recovery from mental illness than ever before. I want to thank all of the volunteers and the Cole Center for helping me regain my confidence and my life. Their support and understanding was intricate in my recovery. I encourage anyone who is interested in helping the Cole Center to do so - It feels great!

"The Millennium year 2000 served up an interesting assemblage of particulars for me. My divorce became final, my children left home, my dog was put to sleep, I was financially strapped, unemployed and slipping into a deep depression. A friend noticed my depression and suggested I volunteer with the Cole Center as their Gift Cart Manager.

That was more than a year ago. Tomorrow, I will begin my first fulltime job in more than 10 years. Now, in midlife, I've changed careers, my salary is greater than in my previous vocation and I have a wealth of new friends. I can say, for the first time in a long time, I am happy and I have control of my life.

The Cole Resource Center helped bring about these changes in my life. They provided peer support, mental health guidance and a sense of worth. Substantial housing information was provided and job counseling clearly helped boost my confidence and prepared me for my new job. Virtually my entire recovery was made possible because of the staff and services available through the Cole Center.

updated: February 19, 2006        Contact webmaster