The letter is handwritten in careful cursive, on beautiful stationery. It comes from a formerly incarcerated individual, DP*, and is addressed to Dana Gray, a forensic mental health clinician and clinical supervisor at the Worcester County Jail & House of Correction. But it isn’t just a typical thank you note—it is a heartfelt expression of how one Advocates clinician changed his life.
Solace, Safety, and Kindness
“Incarceration is not typically a pleasant situation,” begins the letter. “But with your leadership many men have found solace and safety, myself included.”
DP speaks of Dana’s warmth, her patience, her steady presence. He describes the simple acts of kindness that made him feel valued. “The genuine care you have for others is obvious,” he writes. “The smile that you’ve graced us with every day always conveyed your gentle kindness.”
Mental Health Care in a Correctional Facility
Advocates offers comprehensive mental health care from a dedicated team of mental health clinicians, psychiatrists, and nurse practitioners. At the Worcester County Jail & House of Correction, the Advocates team provides assessments, treatment, medication management, crisis support, and suicide prevention for more than 700 incarcerated adults.
Real World Mental Health Treatment
The Mental Health Unit (MHU) in West Boylston provides intensive treatment for incarcerated individuals with serious mental illness in a setting that mirrors community-level care. The program uses a holistic, person-centered approach. Program participants voluntarily agree to engage in treatment and adhere to program expectations.
Inside the MHU, individuals like DP engage with mental health staff daily through group sessions and receive individual therapy on a weekly or biweekly basis. They also participate in educational programming, recreational activities, and connect with community resources. The emphasis is on developing transferable skills that support successful reintegration after release.
The MHU provided DP with the support and sense of community he needed. “Thank you for being an advocate for us. Thank you for your anchoring presence, and the community you have cultivated,” he writes.
Coping with Stress in a Healthier Way
Forensic mental health clinicians like Dana don’t just provide therapy in the MHU. They equip people with tools like practicing mindfulness, breathing techniques, increasing self-awareness, and practicing self-compassion. By using these tools, the men can begin to learn new ways of managing emotions and begin to build healthy relationships.
For some incarcerated individuals, this is their first experience receiving any type of mental health treatment. "I've learned much from you, and for that I'm grateful," writes DP.
Reflection and Personal Growth
In his letter, DP writes that his time at the jail was not wasted time. In fact, he says that it was a chance for him to gain self-knowledge and self-understanding. “Thank you for the part you’ve played in making what could have been a very difficult time into a time of reflection and personal growth.”
Keeping Our Communities Safer and Healthier
Opal R. Stone, vice president of community justice services for Advocates, says, “I’m incredibly touched by the writer taking the time to express his gratitude – but certainly not surprised that Dana had such an incredibly positive impact on his life. It really is another reminder of why we do the work we do, despite the challenges. We are proud of all our team does to make our communities safer and healthier."
Being Seen and Cared For
For DP, the MHU program and his connection with Dana were about more than mental health services. They were about being seen and valued as a human being. “The program afforded me a place where I felt valued and cared for. I’ve always felt that I mattered to you as a person.”
*Name has been changed to protect privacy.
