DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — For 40 years, Threshold has quietly operated as one of Durham’s most impactful, and least known, community resources, offering adults living with severe mental illness a place to work, learn and belong.
Inside the Angus Barn, one of the program’s longtime employment partners, 46yearold Kevin Talley moves with purpose as he polishes the wooden bar or buffs the foot rail in the Turkey Lounge.
“Honestly, it’s the best job I’ve ever had, and I’ve worked a lot of jobs,” he said. Talley, who lives with schizophrenia, says meeting new people is his favorite part of the work. His diagnosis, he adds, doesn’t limit his ability to succeed.
“People with mental illness know how to do jobs just as equal or better than some of the regular people,” he said.
Talley is one of many success stories to come out of Threshold, a structured day program serving adults 18 and older who live with conditions such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder and major depression.
Director Elizabeth Barber says the program serves 30 to 35 members a day, most of whom are Medicaid recipients. The goal, she said, is to provide employment, community and lifeskills training that support longterm independence.
“It’s really important for our local community and for the world to understand people living with mental illness are the same as all of us,” Barber said. “We all have challenges.”
Members participate in daily tasks that build confidence and routine, including preparing lunch, planning monthly menus and washing dishes. Associate Director Ali Swiller says Threshold is one of only seven accredited clubhouse programs in North Carolina, a model that emphasizes memberdriven work and community integration.
The organization partners with several local employers, but its relationship with Angus Barn spans more than two decades. Talley hopes more workplaces will follow their lead.
“Like myself, they know how to manage their symptoms and are very good workers,” he said, adding that he hopes stigma around hiring people with mental illness continues to fade.
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