Journey to Mobile Mental Health; Peer Style Part 3
Not sponsored. Links to merchants, businesses, etc are simply because they were part of the experience. Catch up on Parts 1 and 2 of the Journey to Mobile Mental Health, Peer Style
The next morning, we set off bright and early to meet Jordan. The tour went beautifully as the vehicle was everything we wanted. As we test drove, we told Jordan what we planned to use the van for going forward. We shared pictures of Rhy and Koda and our collective story.
We then learned we’d be buying the vehicle from the Rhye family. My heart: overflowing with the synchronicity, listened intently to their stories as we worked out details. They had lived in and loved the van before buying their first home and starting a new chapter of their lives. It had low mileage and met all the standards of being able to get on the road with minimal work and could be further modified to suit our needs over time. The trips they had already taken in this vehicle emanated joy, hope, and the pursuit of happiness. For a myriad of reasons, there’s no way we would have made it to IN to see this van had we not set out on the initial journey to MO. Sometimes, you just gotta follow that spark...
Later that day we turned in the rental car, took off with the van and made a stop at a local Meijer to grab some essentials before hitting the road again. Our plan was to drive all the way to Downingtown if we could. One person sleeps, one person drives like many a multi-driver road trip. The universe had other plans. When we came out of Meijer and started putting things together – the van wouldn’t start.
Jesse went through the basics while telling me it’s not time to panic. Our whole crew is mental health aware, and we know the triggers of those we volunteer with. My anxiety can go from a slow, manageable simmer to a full-blown air raid siren in a millisecond so check-ins like this matter – A LOT. I take several deep breaths, tell myself everything is going to be ok repeating, “trust the mechanic” like a mantra to myself as I go back to my task.
After several routine checks and failures to get the van started Jesse says it’s time to call Jordan. Y’all… the people you have with you, when you’ve just spent a ton on a dream for the community far from home without a lot of alternatives, when your symptoms flare – matters. I’m just going to go ahead and digress here for a moment and say – living with a mental health condition is still living. Yes, we had to pause other activities so I could manage my symptoms and balance myself out but that’s what the tools are for!!! Having space and support to experience my symptoms and know I will be supported is life changing. More on that in the future, now back to the van.
Fast track, Jesse gets the van started just as Jordan arrives and we head over caravan style to the local auto parts store for a test, the most likely culprit is a dead battery. No such luck – the alternator is toast. It’s too late to get it to a shop, the auto parts store though helpful – doesn’t do alternators. Staying the night and losing a day isn’t an option. Jesse says it doesn’t matter, if they have the part he’ll fix it right here in the parking lot. Jordan acquires the part, donates it to Rhy’s Above, and sets off to his house to get jacks, jack stands, a few tools we didn’t have in the van, and a good piece of cardboard to slide underneath.
Jordan and I kept each other entertained while Jesse worked through the early details, then Jordan joined him under the van and learned a few tricks of the trade. We collectively helped each other through what could have been tremendously stressful and got the van back on the road at record speed and cost. I am forever grateful for the donated materials and time that made that possible. The rest of the trip home was relatively uneventful, stopping at a Cracker Barrel overnight and sleeping in the parking lot (thanks for always having camping space Cracker Barrel!) and getting back on our way.
The most important part now is getting out on the road and into the community. Because the van had just been listed and they thought it was going to take a lot longer to sell we’re still waiting for the title. That’s ok though, it’s given us time to go through her, work out the kinks, and plan for the future. The needs of Rhy’s Above are of course different than a family. We have the dogs and additional volunteers that need seatbelts for example. Every time I spend a single cent of Rhy’s Above money I ask myself if I’m being a good steward. It’s lead to some hard decisions and delays but at the end of the day I trust when we do spend it has direct impact.
With our Peer Support Popup (PSP) van we can increase our impact and ability to meet people where they are. Connect by listening to their stories, providing mento boxes full of tools and tips. By bringing Koda, our therapy dog, to bridge the gap between stranger and comrade in a difficult world. We’re all just trying make it through and keep that fire burning. By making real connections – and then sharing their stories as they see fit if they see fit. Now that’s something we could take on the road. Literally. It’s not quite mobile mental health – we do not intend to be staffed by professionals even though we may have some that volunteer from time to time. It’s peer support. Real people. Real experiences. In pop up fashion. And sometimes a podcast.
Soon we’ll be putting out a list of items we’re seeking to modify the van, parts that would be amazing to change out, new tires, etc. For now, we’re focusing on safety, drivability, and the logo wrap for the van so we’re easily identifiable. If you know someone who wraps vehicles that would be interested in working with us – please tell them or me and I’ll reach out! If you’re interested in sponsoring the van as a business, we’ll also have opportunities for that so stay tuned. The more visible support we have from the community on the van for all to see, the more impact we make together.
Sleeping quarters in the van with the dogs is imperative to our success. Even going out to Harrisburg can take a lot longer to accommodate Koda’s needs for breaks and sleep so now we take hotel costs off the table. Double bonus, we always have a place at events for him to get downtime and cool off on hotter days. I’m excited to see how the van evolves over time and becomes a staple in the community. Driving around, making connections, and visually reminding us all to be a little kinder, more patient, more accepting of one another and the challenges we face others know nothing about.
In the meantime, make a donation (heck, make it monthly!) toward any of the programs, van, mento boxes etc to help keep us going.
And if you see Koda out in the community with Jennifer, or our Youth Ambassadors and dog handlers in training Oliva and Jeremy, say hi. Get some Koda love and spread some good vibes. We’re so looking forward to meeting you where you are.
Because Bruh, we got you.