Welcome to Mental Health Recovery Court
Our affiliate has certainly been welcomed by this new program. The Mental Health Recovery Courts in Concord and Ayer opened in January of this year. Our affiliate was included in an introductory event at that time. This summer we were invited back to speak to program participants and court staff about peer support and NAMI programs. We shared our Adult Peer Support and Crisis Info flyers along with our Crisis Card and a few words about how peer support can be part of one’s recovery.
Clinicians and members of the mental health team met privately with the judge prior to the public court session. They reviewed the progress of each case including personal goals, achievements, and concerns of the individual program participants. The tone of the public session, set by the judge’s demeanor and the professionals on the team was warm and. . . well. . .welcoming. They discussed efforts around helping program participants with health insurance coverage, housing insecurity, and referrals to primary care doctors and behavioral health therapists. Other conversations included hobbies, impulse control strategies, therapy, social opportunities, meetings at Emerson hospital, calming techniques, and social media, among other personal perspectives. Judge Lynn Brendemuehl asked the participants to “promise to reach out to the team and not try to go it alone.”
The growing number of Mental Health Courts in Massachusetts are designed to increase access to mental health treatment for court-involved people and assist them in their path forward. Click on the button below to review our newsletter article from earlier this year for an outline of the program and application form. While you or your family may never need to utilize this service, it is good to know our Commonwealth is committed to helping those living with mental health conditions who become involved in the criminal justice system.
Margaret Johnston serves as the Mental Health Court Clinician for both the Ayer and Concord locations. She can be reached at mjohnston4@TeamCenturion.com or 774-419-2417. She is very welcoming.
Addendum 9/10/24: Margaret Johnston is currently on leave, so please contact Christopher Chappell or your defense attorney about the program, Christopher.Chappell@jud.state.ma.us.
The Mental Health Recovery team at the Concord District Court. Pictured are officers of the court, clinicians/staff associated with the program, and our president, Lori Krinsky in orange.