The Tennessee Tech Center for Addiction Prevention and Support will celebrate the Day of Hope Monday to support those in recovery.
The Day of Hope is an initiative by Governor Bill Lee to support those recovering from mental health illnesses and substance misuse. Senior Prevention Coordinator Adrienne Lees said residents will walk from the streets on the west side of Cookeville to Dogwood Park to signify hope for a positive future.
“It’s very important to just kind of end the stigma that surrounds mental health illnesses and substance misuse,” Lees said. “You know, just to make sure that we are letting people know that we see them and that we hear them, that we are here and that we care, and that our community is supporting them every step of the way.”
Lees said mental health illnesses and substance misuse are frequently co-occurring disorders. Lees said the celebration will also support those who may be struggling with one but not the other.
“People sometimes with mental health illnesses will end up misusing substances to kind of cope with he negative aspects that they are feeling, the negative feeling that they have,” Lees said. “Seeing how they typically go hand in hand, they don’t have to. Sometimes, people have mental health illnesses and sometimes misuse substances separately. I think that’s why the Day of Hope really wants to celebrate both of those things.”
Lees said community support really helps people who are still in the recovery process.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever heard the old saying ‘the opposite of addiction is connection, ‘” Lees said. “But that’s what we are really trying to do here is just show people that we are connected, we are paying attention, and that we are here to help.”
Lees said having hope is one of the most important things when going through recovery. Lees said it can be really hard for people if they don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
At the end of the walk, the celebration will be completed by releasing lanterns. The Day of Hope Celebration will begin Monday at 11:30am and will start at 10 West Broad Street.
