TSH Honors Amy Pierce

04-30-2012

Amy Pierce has certainly made her mark at Terrell State Hospital. Amy is leaving TSH to take a job at Bluebonnet Trails Community Center as the Peer Support and Recovery Coordinator.

Amy began her journey at TSH as a patient and ended her career at TSH as the Peer Support Supervisor. She spent a year as a patient at TSH being discharged in 1997. She had been in and out of other private mental health care facilities before coming to TSH. She has worked 12 years at TSH.

“Dr Purdue gave me a chance. She brought me in her office and told me that I could get better. She let me know that she was there to support me and work with me. She told me that they would do whatever was needed for recovery and they did,” said Ms. Pierce.

Amy went on to say that Dr. Purdue could have easily discharged her or thought she was a lost cause, but that she was here today because of the help and support she received at TSH.

“I was given an opportunity by Vickie Barnes to implement the Speak Up Program with Karen Soto. In doing this I found my own voice. The self advocacy part of the Speak Up Program was a wonderful thing. I began to do the new employee training with consumer perspective. This was the place that I first started telling my story and letting the staff know what an impact they have on clients,” said Ms. Pierce.

She said that Ms. Barnes saw the importance of the Speak Up Program and encouraged her. Amy said this program was the beginning of the Peer Support Program at TSH.

She continued, “We saw administration embrace the concept of listening to the people that we served and making changes at the hospital based on client needs. I have a very deep sense of gratitude for each and every person here at TSH. It takes everyone in the healing process. Our hospital has embraced the Consumer Perspective from the start. Because of that TSH had the first Peer Support Department in the state. Our hospital has made tremendous strides in that area. ”

Amy has used her experience with living with mental illness to help clients as well as employees at TSH. Seclusion and Restraint reduction has always been a concern for her. She served on several committees to help with the reduction of seclusion and restraint.

“I will miss the patients and the impact that I can make in their lives by showing that recovery is possible. I will also miss the staff. Many of the staff that are still here are the ones that took care of me when I was hospitalized here. They helped me heal. Each and every day I get to go out and see them and remind them that what they do matters,” said Ms. Pierce.

Amy was instrumental in getting the Oasis opened to the clients and the Recovery Wall where patients leave their mark when they are discharged. She has been an important patient advocate for TSH. Her bitter sweet departure from TSH leaves a gap that can not be filled. Ms. Pierce is one of TSH’s greatest success stories. We know that she will be helping clients at her new job and making a difference in the lives of others. She will be missed.

Ms. Pierce was honored with a farewell party in the Silver Star Cinema on April 5, her last official day of work at TSH.

Amy Pierce is pictured with Nancy Smith as she places her final hand print on the Wall of Recovery. (Photos by Sheila Kunick)