News & Press

By Nicholas Grenke
ngrenke@sentinel-standard.com

Posted Sep. 25, 2015 at 7:49 PM

IONIA COUNTY

Ionia County Community Mental Health will soon be called The Right Door for Hope Recovery and Wellness.

Ionia County Community Mental Health Chief Executive Officer Bob Lathers said the name change is happening for several reasons, and coincides with the organization's 50th year in Ionia County. The name change transition starts Oct. 1 and will go into full effect Jan. 1.

“At the very core, this is what we aspire to be,” Lathers said. “What we want to do is show people we are the right door.”

Lathers said the organization's board of directors and employees decided on the new name. There was some discussion on other choices, but in the end they decided to move forward with using the positive slogan. Lathers said it may take some people time to adjust to the new name, so the organization will be pushing for its use in the community.

Everything but some official paperwork will reflect the change. Lathers said some of the large scale adjustments will be a new sign outside, a new automated phone system, a new website and the way employees reference the organization with patients.

“There is a stigma attached to mental heath treatment. It's gotten to be a negative term,” Lathers said. “We're not ashamed of the work we do, but some people might feel ashamed coming here.”

He hopes the new name will make it easier for people who feel that way to get the help they need and deserve.

"It's not your fault if you get cancer or some other disease and need treatment," Lathers said. "Just like it's not your fault if you need our type of treatment."

Lathers said another reason for the change is to feel more inclusive for people outside of Ionia County. He said the organization's three treatment centers help people no matter where they're from. Lathers pointed to the organizations' s new autism treatment center coming to Belding as a service people around the state will use.

“We're the closest place some people in neighboring communities can get to for specialized services,” Lathers said.

There are also treatment centers in Ionia and Portland.

He said if someone calls the office, a representative will say “Thank you for calling Ionia County Community Mental Health: The Right Door for Hope Recovery and Wellness,” during the first few months of the transition process. When the new name has become more ingrained representatives will simply say, “Thank you for calling the The Right Door.”

An outside agency was hired to help the organization come up with its new logo, which will feature a sun in the background.

“The sun is a symbol for hope and wellness,” Lathers said. “That's what we are.”

http://www.sentinel-standard.com/article/20150925/NEWS/150929326