Essex Co. residents bowl for mental illness awareness

Residents of all ages gathered Saturday at Eagle Rock Bowling Lanes in West Orange to bowl for a good cause. The event, which was hosted by the Essex County Mental Health Association, brought in bowlers

News 12 Staff

Feb 23, 2009, 4:48 PM

Updated 5,709 days ago

Share:

Residents of all ages gathered Saturday at Eagle Rock Bowling Lanes in West Orange to bowl for a good cause.
The event, which was hosted by the Essex County Mental Health Association, brought in bowlers young and old to raise money for Prospect House, a shelter for those with mental illness. Another goal of the event was to raise awareness about the stigma against mental illness.
According to organizers, Prospect House provides people with mental illnesses with shelter, food, jobs and a sense of community. Frank, who asked to give just his first name, has been a consumer at Prospect House for over two decades, and says the organization has helped him manage his life.
"Sometimes, we go on trips and everything, we have meetings, we have special events at Prospect House,? Frank says. ?It's been going well for the last 25 years."
Prospect House administrators say their mission is to help consumers gain control of their illnesses and improve their lives.