Interview With Jason

This interview is with a member of Daniels Place. His name is Jason. He has been coming to Daniels Place for five years. He is one of our oldest members. We asked Jason questions about his experience with Daniels Place, about his mental illness and what he has gotten out of coming to Daniels Place.

* For another member's perspective on Daniel's Place, click here to read Yossi's speech. *

1. When did you first start coming to Daniel’s Place?

The first time I came to Daniel’s Place was when I was 22 years old, which was in 1998. I am one of the first three founding members.

2. What did you think you would get out of it when you first went to Daniel’s Place?

When I first went I was persuaded by my mother, because she thought that it would be a good place for me to talk about my issues with schizophrenia.

3. What is it like going to Daniel’s Place?

Going to Daniel’s place has been a key event of my life and week to reach out to my friends who I’ve met at Daniel’s place.

4. What have you gotten out of Daniel’s Place for the many years you have come?

A sense of community with members of society who are fighting the same fight that I am fighting, where I have support and friendship, and pleasure from being able to share my life with people who can understand what it’s like to be in my shoes.

5. Who would you recommend going to Daniel’s Place and why?

I would recommend anyone who is seeking help with a mental illness to reach out to people who are found in Daniel’s Place, who have the experience of mental illness like themselves, and are willing to share and learn from the knowledge that can be found at Daniel’s Place. People who are willing to share their feelings more openly tend to get more out of it.

6. What did you learn about your schizophrenia since you have been coming to Daniel’s Place?

The hard part is that I’ve learned so much. There’s a million things that I did not know. And I especially learned about medications, what are the right meds to takes, what are the side effects. I asked other members what they were going through, and saw if the things that they were going through were the same things that I was going through. I learned how to share my feelings. Mostly I’ve learned that my illness is not something to be ashamed of.

7. What do you have to offer new members?

I have eight years of experience of dealing with a mental illness. I can give them a positive outlook on how to achieve successful things without having to feel alone.

8. Can you fill us in a little bit about your schizophrenia?

My mind is almost possessed as I would call it, by forces that are not always of my nature. Therefore I live in a schizophrenic brain, which sometimes I have no control over. But I know I’m not the first one, or the last. My mental illness sometimes keeps me locked up in my feelings or in my mind. It’s hard cause I have a lot of depression, due to having to live off of government support and not feel my full amount of worth because I’m not able to achieve things that normal people can achieve like having a family and a home and other things that I don’t have right now. But I know that the constraints of my mental illness will not stop me from overcoming.

9. Why do you keep coming to Daniel’s Place?

To be able to give back to others

10. What kind of place is Daniel’s Place to you?

Daniel’s place is a warm loving environment that I get much satisfaction out of because I’m with people that I care about.

11. How has Daniel’s Place changed over the years?

I’ve seen many new and old familiar faces. I’ve seen lots of people come and go. But the ones who’ve stuck around are true members who will be forever remembered by those who care about them.

12. Is there anything that you would like to say that we didn’t mention?

I would like to thank Wayne Bauer, Daniel’s place manager [actually Wayne is the service coordinator] and his predecessor for truly believing in the cause of Daniel’s Place, which has been the memory of Daniel Greenberg. I would also like to thank the Greenbergs [Daniel’s Place founders] for being kind enough to give from their loss.