FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Mental health facility Courageous Healing Inc. and Fort Wayne artist Mike Strong have partnered to expand the reach of mental health services to underserved communities.
This project was the brainchild of Aaron Lane, co-founder of Courageous Healing. Aaron said he wanted to do something different to reach people who might not have thought of asking for help.
“We thought maybe we could reach people in a different way than just coming to a counseling facility,” Aaron said. “One of the things that helps people understand that mental health doesn't have to look or feel the same as what you've been through in the past. It doesn't necessarily have to be a TV show or It doesn’t have to be what is portrayed in the movies.”
Aaron said mental health facilities can be vibrant, comfortable and relaxing places that are inclusive to everyone.
“No matter what you look like, there's someone out there who looks like you. So it's about making people feel safe, and making people feel dignified and feeling seen and valued and heard. I think so,” Aaron said.
The goal is to reduce the stigma behind mental health services. Janelle Lane, co-founder of Courageous Healing and wife of Aaron Lane, said this came at the perfect time.
“As it is Black History Month, we know that this time the focus is on art, Black history, and the arts. And being able to express ourselves is something that is naturally ingrained in our culture and our people. And so much of counseling for us is about telling our stories and the power of our stories. So it was a very natural connection,” Janelle said.
Strong created a song titled “I Am Healing, Jesus, and Therapy” to illustrate the process of services such as therapy and counseling provided by Courageous Healing. He also incorporates his own personal experiences into the lyrics.
“I recently rededicated my life to the Lord last year, and therapy has been part of my journey of healing and personal progress,” Strong said.
Strong said the response from the community has been impactful.
“Some people call me and say they cried,” Strong said. “Seeing all the different people, all ages and diverse groups, from kids to grandparents, it made a lot of people proud to see that. Especially for us, it's not common at all. It’s from.”
The song can be found on the Courageous Healing Facebook page. All of Courageous Healing's resources and services can be found here.
