So many of us have been there – young adults trying to find our place in the world, dealing with a variety of different mental health challenges and feeling alone.
Luke Shirley, founder and director of the nonprofit Quest in Recovery, has walked this walk, too. And he knew there had to be way to find people who faced the same challenges and show them creative, nonsolo ways to heal.
Quest in Recovery is a nonprofit organization in the Charleston area that was designed just to do that by offering young adults healthy and engaging ways to navigate mental health battles and travel the road to recovery.
The name of the organization is derived from the idea that people are always on a quest to find meaning in life and to heal from our struggles. Some of the challenges the organization helps members recover from include anxiety, depression and substance abuse.
Through recreational activities such as yoga, meditation, boxing and book clubs, the focus of the organization is on staying active while also doing the tough work. But that’s just a piece of the amazing puzzle.
Shirley’s recovered from a place of mental health struggles through his adolescence and especially through the college years. After watching his mom support and mentor so many people in the recovery community, he decided to take the leap and start his own mentorship organization.
“I suppressed a lot of the things I was going through, many that were deep wounds because I never knew how to talk about it,” he said. “I always thought I had to have it together and not be weak, but the truth is that we all go through things and no matter how we divide ourselves, there’s something important about sharing our moments and sharing our stories with others.”
Today, the foundation of Quest is built on three pillars: recreation, education and service. The peer-to-peer supported community has a mentor program that matches young adults with a team member to help them develop positive coping skills.
With the weekly recreation schedule, both mentors and mentees learn how to find comfort in the uncomfortable while staying active and moving their bodies.
“The classes we offer give each member the ability to do hard things and to get uncomfortable,” Shirley explained. “It’s important to find acceptance and be not only OK but open to life’s challenges. The things that seem the most challenging, like in these classes, are some of the most rewarding moments in our lives and where you can learn the most.”
Perhaps one of the most exciting things Quest in Recovery is working on is bringing the program to local college campuses where Shirley believes it is needed the most.
“I think there is a severe lack of mentorship on the higher education side, and young adults are the most effected by anxiety and depression,” he said.
Quest in Recovery is working to change what remains a substantial stigma surrounding the narrative of mental health battles. Shirley believes that recovery is a beautiful word and that no matter where you are or what you are dealing with, you can always find new ways to renew and reconnect to yourself. And Quest will be there with you every step of the way to help you find peace in recovery.
Shirley’s favorite part of starting Quest in Recovery has been all that he has learned from the people around him.
“As a new nonprofit, there is just so much to learn – from other nonprofit founders, entrepreneurs, federal judges, personal mentors, advisors and from each and every person who comes to an event or joins our mentor program,” he said. “Emerson had a great quote about every person you meet is your teacher in some regard, and I would have to agree. Just staying curious and cultivating a sense of wonder for the world and people around me is such a thrilling part of this work. I know I have so much to learn, so each day I try to be the driest and most absorbent sponge I can be around people much smarter than me.”
Are you interested in supporting this powerful organization?
“The biggest way for people to help support Quest in Recovery is by reaching out, sharing about us on social media or within your community, coming to the events – every donation counts – and having the tough conversations,” said Shirley. “We are all tied together in humanity, and we all have to play our part.”
This September, a a fun and inspiring Recovery Awareness Campaign, during Recovery Awareness Month, which will give everyone the opportunity to get involved and help support the organization. To learn more, check out the organization’s Instagram @questinrecovery or visit questinrecovery.org.
By Karen Liszewski
