Many thanks to all of those who supported the COMHAR Art Exhibition 2023!. We are truly grateful to our sponsors, donors, and those who purchased art pieces. Thank you for supporting our mission at COMHAR to improve the lives of those we serve with mental health, substance use challenges, and intellectual disabilities!

Alicia Mino, Artist; Martin O’Rourke, Friend of COMHAR; Patrick Dooley, COMHAR Board of Directors President

                                  Jaliya Faulkner, COMHAR Board of Directors; Woody Rosenbach, COMHAR CEO

The Gallery

Gary Schoenberg, Development & Communications Director; Allie Bruchwalski, Friends Hospital Community Liaison; Woody Rosenbach, COMHAR CEO

Catina Anastasiadis, COMHAR Division Director; Julie Rainbow, Friend of COMHAR; Trapeta Mayson, COMHAR COO; Yasheeka Tanwar, COMHAR Director Compliance and QM

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place for COMHAR’s Outpatient Restoration Long Term Structure Residence (ORLTSR) on May 30, 2023, in Easton, PA. The ribbon cutting ceremony was the final phase of the opening of the ORLTSR that will soon begin to provide services for residents targeted for September 2023.  The project is a collaboration supported through a working partnership between Northampton County’s Division of Mental Health and HealthChoices, Magellan Healthcare, COMHAR, and Shiloh Church which owns the property. COMHAR will provide programming for up to eight individuals who will live at the facility in a partial hospital setting.  Outpatient treatment will include therapy, support groups, psychiatric treatment, and other therapeutic services.

Present at the event included Lamon G. McClure, Northampton County Executive; Leigh Ann Ksiazek, Community Program Manager with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS); Sal Panto, Mayor of the City of Easton; Pastor Phil Davis of Greater Shiloh Church; Susan Wandalowski, Director of Human Services; Tiffany Crush, Mental Health Administrator; Kristy Cole, LSW, HealthChoices; Trapeta B. Mayson, COMHAR COO; Woody Rosenbach, COMHAR CEO; Orlando Castro, COMHAR H.R. Director; Catina Anistasiadis, COMHAR ICRS Division Director; Gary Schoenberg, COMHAR Director of Development and Communications; Christine Ebert,  Program Director, Northampton LTSR/Walker Rd. Specialized Supported Housing.

In the spirit of community collaboration and networking Pastor Phil Davis from Shiloh Church shared that this project was a vision from his late father.  In his words, “Our community serves everybody or nobody.”  Susan Wandalowski, the Director of Human Services shared, “We cannot do this without our community.”  Trapeta B. Mayson, COMHAR’s COO shared, “This ORLTSR is a true vision of healing and recovery of those who we serve in alignment with COMHAR’s mission.”

L-R: Orlando Castro, Catina Anastasiadis, Trapeta B. Mayson, Christine Ebert, Woody Rosenbach, Gary Schoenberg

Action is essential in maintaining your mental health but when it comes to prioritizing wellness, it can be difficult to know where to begin. With that in mind, here are some easy ways you can take action on Mental Health Action Day, Thursday, May 18. It’s important to remember that actions look different for everyone, so we encourage you to pursue whatever actions feel best for you.

Check In with Yourself: As you navigate through the business of your day-to-day life it is so easy to forget to take care of yourself and not acknowledging your thoughts and feelings can be detrimental to your mental health. Make sure you are regularly checking in on yourself and assessing your own wellbeing.

Reach Out to a Friend: When you are struggling to care for your mental health, it can often feel isolating and the idea of talking to a loved one in your life about what you are experiencing can seem like a daunting task. But reaching out can make all the difference, as we all need support and encouragement as we navigate through difficult times.

Get Outside: Spending time in nature is a fantastic way to relieve stress and increase your energy. Plus, fresh air literally sends more oxygen to your brain, which can elevate your mood. You only need a few minutes to escape the daily grind and practice a bit of mindfulness.

Drink a Glass of Water: Nearly 80 percent of Americans are not drinking enough water on a daily basis and believe it or not, that lack of hydration can have a massive impact on your mental health. Drinking water can improve your mood and emotions and a study even found that people who drink more water had a lower rate of anxiety and depression than people who drink less water.

In their quest for Innovative Solutions for a Growing Nationwide Mental Health Crisis, Our Body Politic, reached out to COMHAR since they were doing a podcast series on the mental health crisis.  Our Body Politic’s weekly episodes feature in-depth conversations about the economy, health, politics, education, the environment, and the most prescient issues. 

They were drawn to COMHAR when they read about the COMHAR Clubhouse because that is not a “mainstream” service offered.  Sandie McRae-Wright, Open Door Clubhouse Director, was interviewed in the podcast in which she described the Clubhouse model as a psychiatric rehabilitation program where the members run the Clubhouse and learn new skills that help them achieve the five key domains of community life – living, learning, working, socializing, and wellness.  Through the work-ordered day, members learn new skills, further their education, and prepare for entering the workforce.

To view the entire podcast, click the link below.  Sandie’s interview begins at 31 minutes.

Innovative Solutions for a Growing Nationwide Mental Health Crisis

You can also hear a brief part of the interview, by clicking

This year, Mental Health Awareness Month will amplify the message, “More Than Enough.” According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, this campaign is a message for hope and inclusion. “All people, no matter where they are on their mental health journey, are deserving of support, resources, fulfillment and a community that cares.”

For more than forty-five (45) years, COMHAR has served as a highly respected and valued member of the health and human services community. COMHAR is a trusted community partner that helps transform the lives of underserved populations in need of quality health care for mental health concerns, co-occurring substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are committed to inclusivity, supporting individuals of every age, level of need, and background, including culturally sensitive care for the Black and Latinx communities, and an affirming environment for the LGBTQIA+ community.

 National Anxiety Disorders Awareness is also observed in May.  Even though mental health conditions such as anxiety are very treatable only 36% of people go to get help. Some avoid treatment due to the stigma which often exists because of negative stereotypes or myths. Others might believe that treatment does not help. And some believe that anxiety just happens, or that it is very uncommon. This, again, is untrue. Anxiety disorder is the most common mental health disorder in the US, and it is caused by several factors such as brain activity to genetics, to life events, and is treatable!

 So, reach out if you need help, or be there for someone who needs help. COMHAR is here for you!