Community members gathered Thursday at The Farm of Cultural Crossroads of Minden for Recovery Day 2026, an event aimed at celebrating recovery, reducing stigma, and connecting people with resources for mental health and substance use challenges.
The event, held September 24, was hosted by Minden Behavioral Health Clinic in partnership with The Farm. A large crowd took advantage of pleasant weather to visit with local organizations and service providers while enjoying food, music, games, door prizes, and fellowship.
The day also provided an opportunity for people to share personal testimonies about their experiences with recovery.
Before the testimonies began, event organizer Marsha Hayes emphasized that recovery can take many forms, drawing on a definition she recently encountered while studying women-specific mental illnesses.
“Recovery is living a life of meaning, choice, empowerment and hope,” Hayes said. “That’s what we want to focus on today … you have a choice in how you lead your life in recovery. You have the choice to choose your own path and we hope we have shown you that today.”
Hayes said one person’s path might involve medical treatment, while another might find support through spirituality, exercise and nutrition, art, or a combination of approaches.
“Recovery is not a one-size fits all journey,” Hayes said. “Today we want to celebrate whatever path it is that you choose.”
Another focus of Recovery Day was reducing the stigma that can surround conversations about mental health and substance use. Hayes noted that people generally speak openly about physical health concerns, such as blood pressure, glucose levels, sprained ankles, and back problems, and encouraged the same openness when discussing mental health and substance use challenges.
“We should also be open and willing to talk about mental health and substance use challenges,” Hayes said. “Let’s get rid of the stigma!”
Hayes also stressed the role that relationships and community can play regardless of the recovery path a person chooses.
“And no matter what path you take, you need relationships, you need your communities,” Hayes said. “And that is what we are building today and everyday. Communities that support the paths!”
Throughout the event, attendees moved among vendor and resource tables, participated in games, shared a meal, and visited with others as organizers sought to provide both information and an atmosphere of community support.
