Center offers help for those struggling with loneliness

DAVIE - May is mental health awareness month, and part of the focus this year is on loneliness.  

"Loneliness is associated with depression, it's associated with poor health outcomes," said Claudia Vicencio, director of the Memorial Outpatient Behavioral Health Center..

Housed in the health center is Rebel's Drop-In. It's a free 365 days a-year art space for those going through a struggle.

"The drop-in center means it's a place of community it's a place where anybody can come in (and) you don't need to be a registered patient," Vicencio said. "We don't charge your insurance."

Officials say art therapy, or time to freely use art as a form or expression, can help people going through psychological or emotional distress, or those going through substance recovery.

"You don't have to have a diagnosis, you just need to be able to say I'm not feeling okay," Vicencio said.

The center is open daily from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.