Strawberry Mansion: Easing the Minds of the Neighborhood

Tucked away in upper Strawberry Mansion at 28th and Dauphin streets is the local branch of Community Mental Health and Retardation or COMHAR, Inc.  Since 1975, this system of outpatient mental health clinics have been serving the area by providing therapy at no cost to the patient thanks to government funding.

“COMHAR is a large network – of which we at Strawberry Mansion are the smallest – dedicated to providing counseling, compassion and service to all people, young and old. And additionally provide service for HIV and substance abuse,” says resident therapist Esther Brahmstadt, having herself been with COMHAR for over seven years now.

Though some COMHAR branches provide on site detoxification and even community living, Bramstadt claims that this specific site specializes in resocializing and finding job placement for those deemed ready to re-acclimate. Another bulk of the work is the counseling provided to Philadelphia residents recently diagnosed with HIV and AIDS and even recourse options available to them.

Since 1997, COMHAR has been raising community awareness at its annual “block party.” Consecutively held at its Front Street and Lehigh Avenue locations, the bash always features a carnival, a show and another organization dealing with similar patients including the Special Olympics and AIDS Walk.