Meet Manny, One of Our Amazing Clients

Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 19, Manny has faced hurdles — including the treatment itself — in his quest to build a fulfilling life.

Medication that helped temper symptoms also caused significant weight gain, compounding his depression. 2015 marked the last of a dozen hospitalizations, he said. Manny landed a good job with New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, but when his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2019, he resigned to help care for him.

Following his move from Brooklyn, New York to Wayne, New Jersey, Manny enrolled in NewBridge Services adult psychiatric day treatment program in Haskell. “He has attended consistently, using the groups to improve his coping abilities and illness management,” supervising clinician Cheryl Schmidt said. “He has made great strides.”

“The program has given me structure, which helps combat depression,” Manny said. Encouraged by his counselors to go back to school, the 35-year-old is earning his certification in medical billing and coding at the Fortis Institute. “The counselors are very empathetic and supportive,” he said.

Manny is also committed to improving his physical health. With adjustments to his medications, eating healthier, and exercising, he has shed 50 pounds. “I feel like I’ve come a long way.”