Wayne Coleman ~ Finding Wellness after Depression & Homelessness

For years Wayne Coleman never gave a thought to mental health. He grew up on a farm west of Toledo near Secor Park, became a brick layer and got married. By 1995 he had four children, a house and a shiny green Ford Tempo.

When his wife asked him to put the Ford in her name, he did. Soon he learned that she was planning to leave. In fact, she had already seen a divorce lawyer.

“I wanted to kill myself,” he said. “When I got to Rescue I ended up staying there for 10 days.”

Eventually he got the car back, thanks to his adult children taking action on his behalf. Rescue Mental Health Services offers emergency care to those who are at risk of harming themselves or others. From there he went to a local mission and then St. Paul’s Community Center.

“When I stayed at the homeless shelter they all avoided me because they thought I was an undercover cop. I used to scare them walking down the hall.” He paused to put a hand over his mouth like a radio. “I’d say, ‘Squad One, Squad One, this is Squad Two calling,’” he said with a mischievous smile.

On a serious note, the recovery process takes time. Naturally, stable shelter was the first step, and he found supportive housing at NPI in 1997. He also got treatment at Zepf Community Mental Health Center.

“I still have the same psychiatrist, Dr. David Jahn,” he said. “He helped me a lot. Talking does a lot. Just to hear somebody else, their opinion. Over 11 years you kind of become friends.”

Today Wayne is active in the community. He has served as president of several boards, including the Thomas Wernert Center, New Horizons and the Recovery Council of the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board. He has done public speaking at a leading edge program called Partners in Recovery at Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare. He has served holiday meals at St. Paul’s.

“I have to keep busy, and I always want to give back. A lot of these programs helped me to get where I am now. I believe in recovery through education and peer support.”

With his mental health on track he enjoys life as an advocate and grandfather—but there are still difficulties. His daughter, Michelle, 39, developed cancer in her uterus and ovaries in 2007 and died the following year.

“I was going to chemo with her every day until she stopped,” he said. “I was watching her 3-year-old son while she was doing it. We’d just stay in the waiting room.”

She also had a daughter in junior high - an honor student, he noted with pride. He has gotten through the loss with help from friends and family. Daisy Hartford, Wayne's girlfriend of five years, speaks highly of Wayne.

“I can say Wayne’s been a good role model. He taught me how to ride the bus. He helped me get my apartment... He also helped me get into the mental health system when I needed it.”

Daisy’s words capture the great thing about Recovery. It is uplifting, amazing & contagious.