By providing accessible, supportive, and impactful programs and services, Immerse Arkansas helps young people who typically have a difficult time accessing mental health resources overcome the challenges they face as they transition into adulthood.
Eric Gilmore is the executive director of Immerse Arkansas.
Eric Gilmore is the executive director of Immerse Arkansas. During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, he shared with Arkansas Community Foundation staff and donors the mission of Immerse Arkansas and its unique approach to addressing the mental health needs of young people in foster care.
“Our big goal is to create an expansive pathway to healing that would be available to every Arkansas youth in crisis,” said Gilmore. “And specifically, we zoom in on a critical decade, ages 14-24, in the lives of youth who’ve suffered trauma and have more mental health needs.”
Understanding the profound impact of trauma on young people’s identities, relationships, and resilience, Immerse Arkansas strives to provide holistic support that is deeply rooted in building unconditional relationships, providing tools and resources to meet their needs and instilling a vision for each youth’s restored future.
Gilmore added, “Mental health services need to be readily available to these youth, along with a clear understanding of how to access these services. After that, we have to support them in getting on a path to address and manage mental healthcare longer term.
“One of the most pivotal programs we offer is a youth center that provides assistance to young people in crisis situations,” he said. “We also run a transitional living program that fosters a sense of independence and helps individuals develop essential life skills.”
Immerse Arkansas recently opened a new shelter dedicated specifically to young adults called The Station. The 15-bed shelter will give each person his/her own unit with a bedroom and bathroom so the residents have their own space to start the healing process.
Gilmore also looks to expand the group’s impact by establishing Arkansas’ first statewide network dedicated to serving youth in crisis in the 14 to 24 age range. By extending its reach beyond Little Rock, Immerse Arkansas aims to provide essential support to young people and families across the state, recognizing the unique needs and challenges faced by those in rural areas.
“Our pursuit for healing is driven by our hope to change lives,” Gilmore said. By advocating for mental health strategies that are relationship-first,
trauma-informed, and focused on promoting a restored future, Gilmore believes they can revolutionize mental health support for vulnerable youth in Arkansas. This will transform their experiences and challenges into opportunities for healing and success.