Triune Mercy Center: Bob’s Friends
Community
Brandi (pictured above with Rachael Mason from Triune Mercy Center) is a member of Bob’s Friends – an intentional community created by Triune Mercy Center for people who are dedicated to a life in recovery. Through the cultivation of long-term relationships and a vibrant community, along with connection to supportive services, Bob’s Friends hopes to prevent relapse, recidivism, homelessness, and suicide and to make space for transformation, healing, wholeness, wellness, and a flourishing life.
Bob had both family and financial support but he did not have community and connection. He died by suicide after suffering mental health and addiction issues.
The Bob’s Friends community grew out of this tragedy through the generosity and compassion of Bob’s family. Bob’s Friends is for individuals who have completed (or are nearing completion of) an addiction and/or mental health recovery program, are in stable housing, are in need of supportive services and a vibrant community. Bob’s Friends is a place where people in recovery can meet regularly to receive guidance and support, build positive relationships, and work to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Often, people complete an addiction or mental health rehabilitation program, only to find themselves without a strong support network to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle. The isolation they might face increases the chance of relapse, homelessness, and suicide. Bob’s Friends is creating a connection to long term relationships and community to prevent relapse, recidivism, homelessness, and suicide, and to cultivate restoration, transformation, healing, wholeness, and wellness.
Bob's Friends is available to organizations like Miracle Hill Ministries and Jasmine Road who are working with people in recovery. It is a community centered program for those who are soon to graduate or have recently graduated from emergency shelter, rehabilitation, or other residential programming and are transitioning into transitional housing and/or independent living. Bob’s Friends serves people who have been impacted by mental health and or addiction by offering support in that pivotal time of transition to independent living. Rachael Mason with Triune Mercy Center said, “The baton is being passed to us to help continue their care, to continue to support them into a life that is thriving and flourishing, a life that is worth celebrating to them.”
Brandi shared the impact of this program on her life, “Bob’s Friends has had such a positive impact on my life!! They showed me that good people that genuinely care about you and your well being do still exist. I don’t really have family support and I’m having to build healthy relationships with new people which is scary sometimes. Some days I get overwhelmed trying to do things by myself but Bob’s Friends has helped me realize that I do have people in my corner. People that support me and that I don’t have to face life alone. Bob’s Friends is such an amazing organization and I am blessed to be a participant of something that is really going to change lives!!”
According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness Greenville, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IN AN EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, CALL 988 IMMEDIATELY. There is hope with the newly launched 988 number. Providing 24/7, free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
To learn more about Triune Mercy Center and Bob’s Friends, visit https://www.triunemercy.org/.