The Superior Township Board of Trustees voted to approve the Garrett’s Space rezoning request on Monday, July 17, for 3900 North Dixboro Road in Superior Township.
The organization plans to acquire the 76-acre property to provide residential programming for young adults ages 18-28 who struggle with anxiety and depression.
Garrett’s Space is a non-profit founded in 2019 by Julie and Scott Halpert after losing their son Garrett to suicide two years earlier at the age of 23.
"When Garrett was struggling we couldn’t find effective supplemental support options that we believe could have made a lasting difference for Garrett or that he would have wanted to try,” Scott Halpert said in a written statement. "We created Garrett’s Space to help fill this void in our healthcare system for other young adults struggling with their mental health.”
Mental health issues are widespread among young people in the U.S. The Centers for Disease and Prevention Suicide declares suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth. Additionally, for every suicide death among young people, there are an estimated 100 to 200 suicide attempts.
“Garrett's Space fills a huge gap in support for the young adults we will be serving,” Julie Halpert said. “Those are young adults between the ages of 18 and 28. This is a difficult period of life for these young people, a period of transition from high school to college and college to the professional world. It's also a time when many experience the loss of a romantic relationship for the first time. These young adults crave connection and hope that tomorrow will be a brighter day.”
The residential stay of Garrett’s Space is full of welcoming staff, peers, and support groups. Residents will engage in calming and uplifting activities such as yoga, cooking, art and gardening. The building and its participants will be surrounded by nature to support healing as opposed to a sterile environment.
Currently, Garrett’s Space provides a wellness program which poses as an addition to its therapy.
“Our Wellness Programming is already demonstrating that our non-medical approach is effective,” Julie Halpert said. “And we feel strongly that our residential building will be able to help hundreds of young adults a year who are struggling with depression and anxiety.”
The program also offers young adults the opportunity to join one of three weekly virtual groups led by facilitators focusing on peer connection and mood activities.
“There’s really no right answer to mental health. Garrett’s Space has proven to me that there is no feeling I need to be ashamed of,” A Garrett’s Space wellness group participant said. “There are incredible people my age, working towards the same things I am, feeling the same things I am, no matter how dark. Life is meant to be shared, and of all things, love is the prize. Garrett’s Space runs on love.”
Garrett’s Space wishes for all of its programs to continue to help address the major health crisis young adults are facing and for, one day, their programs be replicated nationwide.
“We must live every day with the fact that we could not help our son,” Julie Halpert said. “Seeing the way that Garrett's Space is helping those in our Wellness Programming is extremely gratifying. We started Garrett's Space to honor our son's goodness. We feel like we are on the road to doing just that and we feel strongly that our residential will be able to help hundreds of young adults a year who are struggling with depression and anxiety.”
