After years of dealing with mental illness, this North Quincy man is finding balance
QUINCY – Arthur Dickerson, 51, speaks slowly and cannot breathe easily. Serious mental illness plagued him most of his adult life, which led to him being incarcerated at Bridgewater State Hospital for 14 years.
He was released in 2014 and through Adult Community Clinical Services he is regaining psychiatric stability.
In 2014, upon his release from prison, he was homeless and was psychiatrically committed several times for intense mood swings, disorganization and delusional thinking. But through Aspire Health Alliance and Adult Community Clinical Services, Dickerson is improving.
He said, “My focus is better, and they help me with maintaining.”
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From living in a homeless shelter to working in one
After living in a homeless shelter, he was able to get an apartment in a boarding house in Quincy in 2020. He takes medication and attends regular psychiatric visits. This steady treatment has been going on for five years, and because of mental health services and secure housing, Dickerson is able to work. But his goal is to work more steadily, to be productive in his community.
Right now he works part-time at a homeless shelter in Roxbury.
“I manage cleaning and stuff like that. I manage people who sterilize the shelter. There’s lots of people, so we have to keep wiping it down. They say things like, ‘What do I do now?’ and I show them what to do and he does it. Someone will come back and need more things to do. It feels good knowing that I can help somebody out.”
Dickerson said the demand for help at the homeless shelter is greater in the winter.
For the first time in his life, Dickerson is finding balance, thanks to stable living conditions and therapy.
“I have to get used to it, it’s easier now. I’m doing a lot of programs. I’m slowly coming back into the community.”
He is grateful that his condition is getting under control, and he can see things more clearly.
“I just take each day, day by day," said Dickerson. "I go for walks, sit down with my family. I like going for a ride. I like swimming. I like going to the Y, going around the neighborhood.
“My neighbors are good. I say good morning.”
Dickerson needs help with basics such as clothes and groceries so he can get back on his feet and work steadily and continue to do and feel better.
Email Suzette Martinez Standring: suzmar@comcast.net or visit www.readsuzette.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Aspire Health Alliance helps North Quincy man deal with mental illness
