As we know, substance use disorders and co-occurring illnesses are issues that affect many members of our community. Yet, so many aren’t getting the help they need. Personal struggles are just that – personal – and the prevalent types of treatment available today don’t work for many.
Being able to pick a treatment you feel comfortable with, are willing to try, and are confident will make a difference are fundamental aspects of long-term success. An app-based approach may be the right approach. HereNOW Help is a new way for people to find the help they need, when and where they need it.
HereNow Help, Inc. was founded by Bill Gerlach as the answer to his own personal struggle with addiction. Originally from Rochester, New York, Gerlach grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC. He enjoyed sports and traveled throughout the world with his family.
He graduated from West Virginia University and, after college, enjoyed a successful sales career in the healthcare industry working for Millennium Health. His successes propelled him to become vice president of business development for Gulfstream Diagnostics and then to Precision Health Resources. It sounds like a typical American success story, but behind the facade was a deeper and darker reality.
At the top of his game, in 2012, Gerlach was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) that left parts of his body in excruciating pain. He was prescribed significant quantities of opioids for the pain, leading to a five-year battle with addiction and leaving him feeling isolated and without hope. He found it hard to get help, worried that his career would be over if people found out. Here was someone working in healthcare who was now addicted to pain medication.
Sadly, during this same period, Gerlach’s best friend and younger brother, Derek, was also dealing with his own demons of opioid addiction, refusing any kind of help. Also, in a professional career, he was ashamed and embarrassed to admit his disease, preferring to manage his addiction on his own.
Two brothers – both struggling with addiction – one pursuing traditional means of support and the other struggling on his own; neither felt confident in the current system of available treatment. In late 2018, Bill came up with an idea. While trying to get an Uber ride, two questions dawned on him: why is it so easy to get a ride anywhere yet so difficult to find help when struggling with addiction? What if you could find the care you need as easily as finding an Uber driver?
This was the spark for HereNOW Help, an app that provides the first step for those trying to reach recovery and mental health support. In early 2019, they began planning with the help of his mother, uncle, brother, Derek, and other family members.
Tragically, in August of that year, two days shy of his 29th birthday, Derek passed away as a result of his ongoing struggles with opioid addiction. Derek didn’t fit the picture of a “typical” drug addict. He was clean-cut, athletic, a good student, happy, funny, and loved his family.
He successfully completed his financial certification exams to become a registered financial advisor just weeks before he died. Derek was a talented writer. He had a lifelong love of movies and had a quote for every situation in life.
Derek tried to hide his addiction and didn’t seek help. He didn’t want his co-workers or his family to know. He was afraid that if he went for help, it would appear on his medical records. He didn’t want someone to see him walking into a clinic for help.
Derek served as Bill’s main inspiration for the development of HereNow Help. When he asked Derek about the app idea, he said, “[he] wished there was an app like that when he had been struggling and didn’t know where to turn.”
This loss brought a sense of urgency to the team to bring the app to market as quickly as possible. A GoFundMe campaign was created to support the development of the technology and get the business off the ground.
Launched in 2020, the HereNOW Help app has two apps for both iOS and Android. There is one app for providers that enables real-time communication and recovery support/tracking. The other app is a partner app for clients both in and out of treatment.
The client app allows those in recovery to set goals, journal, answer surveys, set high-risk areas to avoid, get virtual professional therapy or peer-to-peer support, and so much more. Soon, the company will release its third app dedicated to family and friends supporting those in recovery.
For now, HereNOW Help is primarily used for Rehabilitation Centers and Government programs (state and local). The company offers peer specialist training to help communities build strong support resources and create well-paying jobs. In 2021, the company launched its open platform version of HereNOW Help, providing “an Uber for mental health.”
Like UberX, XL and Select HereNOW Help’s open platform provides tiered mental health support using certified peer specialists and licensed mental health counselors and professionals 24/7/365 through talk, text, video chat, and on-demand in-person meetings. It creates a new first step in recovery instead of having to check into a rehab facility, which can be scary for some people. Gerlach says, “With this app version, you don’t have to stop everything in your life; you can take it at the pace you need.” This is helpful for those not ready to go to rehab or doctors.
The HereNOW Help team is dedicated to the principle of openly addressing addiction and mental health issues. People shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about addiction or their experiences. Bill said, “Addressing my addiction was the hardest thing that I’ve ever gone through in my life. If you can get through addiction, you can get through anything, and if we can be a part of helping people do that, then we’ve done something truly worthwhile.”
His advice to anyone starting their journey in sobriety, he admits to sounding a bit cliche, but it worked for him, “It’s one day at a time, and no two days are the same. Every day that you move forward, you’re bettering yourself, you’re bettering the life around you, and the sky is opening up.”
To learn more about HereNOW Help and how to get involved, visit www.HereNOWHelp.com.
Editor’s Note: On July 17th, 2023, the unthinkable happened. My colleague and dear friend, Bill Gerlach, passed away unexpectedly. HereNow Help stated, “With Bill’s passing, we are dedicated more than ever to seeing his dream become a reality. If you know anyone who is struggling with their mental health, please reach out.”
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ENOUGH IS A FEAST by Sober Curator & Wellness Guru Megan Swan covers healthy, and sometimes lazy recipes and mindful eating tips that align with your alcohol-free lifestyle.
SOBER SWEAT with Sober Curator Ashley Sunderland is your weekly pump to get you over the weekly hump. Quick workouts and nutrition tips that are too legit. (Too legit to quit!)
CURATED CRAFTS will give you fun and easy ideas to keep your hands and your mind busy.
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A Disco Ball is Hundreds of Pieces of Broken Glass, Put Together to Make a Magical Ball of Light. You are NOT Broken, Friend. You are a DISCO BALL!
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
