“I love both exercise and yoga. It felt good to do it every day for my mind and body. Exercise daily makes me feel accomplished and ready for the rest of the day.”
Those words from a Mahala’s Hope client – a women’s recovery residence in Eden – demonstrate why a donation from SSM Health is so vital to the mission and values of Mahala’s Hope.
SSM Health is giving $8,500 to Mahala’s Hope to support its wellness center and fitness program.
Mahala’s Hope offers women in recovery a better chance of success by providing a recovery residence specifically designed to address substance abuse and trauma. Their program boasts a holistic, nature-based approach with an equine component, through which the women learn about themselves, healthy relationships, and creating healthy boundaries.
The recovery residence provides women tools for addressing their past addiction, gives them safe coping skills and teaches them how to live in light of their new-found sobriety.
Mahala’s Hope also offers equine experiential learning, which helps clients learn responsibility, respect, leadership, and self-confidence.
“Research shows that regular fitness and yoga programs decrease depression and anxiety, enhance trauma coping skills, and increase success in long-term recovery,” according to Alicia Mattingly, Mahala’s Hope executive director. “We have seen excellent results with our women, such as decreasing the likelihood of drug overdoses or relapse and reducing the potential needs for more emergency room services and crisis management.”
As a health care provider, SSM Health knows that it takes a well-rounded approach to help women in recovery get a fresh start at a new life. “Just like at SSM Health, we know it’s important to look at the whole person to approach treatment that addresses all aspects of a person’s life, and yoga and physical activity is one component,’ according to Dawn Vandenberg, SSM Health Mission Integration regional director. “We are delighted to support Mahala’s Hope in its wellness center initiatives.”
For more information on Mahala’s Hope, call 920-904-6445 or visit mahalashope.com.
In 2023, SSM Health’s community benefit ministry totaled more than $630,000 across the communities it serves. This investment helps ensure access to health care for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, train the next generation of health professionals to care for those in need, and fund programs to address the most pressing health needs of our communities.
Dawn Vandenberg (left), SSM Health Mission Integration regional director, presents a $8,500 donation to Alicia Mattingly, Mahala’s Hope executive director.