Harnett PSR is Helping Delores Moore Build Life-Changing Connections

Delores Moore isn’t much for words upon first meeting her. She’s reserved, quiet, but observant. All it takes is one simple question to get her talking: Why do you like attending Monarch’s Harnett Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR)?

“For me, PSR is all I have,” said Moore. “We’re family here, we’re not friends or peers, we’re family. This is a unique program here. We laugh together, we cry together.”

When Moore first arrived at Monarch’s Harnett PSR more than a year ago, she was struggling with taking her medication consistently and she was overwhelmed with the judgment she faced living with a mental illness.

Her symptoms from anxiety, depression and schizophrenia forced her to withdraw from college courses and eventually put her in a hospital for a month-long stay.

Now, Moore is back on track working toward a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Independence University. Ann Glenn, lead behavioral specialist at Harnett PSR, said Moore has greatly improved over the last several months and is even maintaining a 4.3 (weighted) grade point average.

“Her GPA is awesome. She has progressed greatly,” said Glenn. “She’s in an assisted living home now where everyone does their cleaning, shopping, and they take their medications. She has learned how to cope with her symptoms better when she does experience them. She’s doing very well. She’s very responsible.”

Michelle Ibrahim is the Monarch program manager who also works with Moore to help her develop a plan and reach her goals. She said she had also noticed Moore taking on more of a leadership role at Harnett PSR with keeping track of break schedules and managing the program’s canteen.

“She’s opening up more. When she meets new people, she goes back to being quiet, but then when you ask her about things she’s passionate about, it just flows out. She’s a great speaker and writes wonderful poetry,” said Ibrahim. Moore recently wrote a poem called Still I Rise, inspired by Maya Angelou, detailing her life experiences with abuse and mental illness.

Moore attributes her success to the connections she’s made while attending Harnett PSR. Her closest relationships are the ones she’s developed with the other program participants. Many of them have exchanged phone numbers and can rely on each other for calls on tough days.

“If we’re hurting or the voices are bothering us or we feel like we just want to give up, we can pick the phone up and call. That wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t for us coming here. How many times have I been in public and got a person’s phone number and started a life-changing relationship? ‘Never,’” said Moore.

Inside the walls of Harnett PSR, there is a sense of safety for Moore physically, mentally and emotionally. The fear of being judged diminishes and the sense of community is something that provides a sense of relief.

“This is what we look forward to every day. When Saturday comes, we’re counting down the hours until Monday,” said Moore.

Moore continues to attend PSR four days a week and plans to graduate with her bachelor’s degree within the next three years.