Paden Ferguson

Member / Fulcrum

“It’s okay to not be okay.”

These words have been pivotal in Paden’s own mental health journey. He had a moment of crisis in his childhood but was afraid to find help. As a young male, the pressure from societal norms to “suck it up” and the idea that “boys don’t cry” kept him from sharing how he felt inside.

Paden was introduced to Counseling and Recovery Services of Oklahoma by a current board member. As soon as he learned about it, he instantly felt like he had to be a part of it. The mission of CRSOK is ‘Building better lives and promoting personal dignity within our community through integrated wellness, behavioral health and substance abuse services – inclusive and accessible to all.’

Thankfully, Paden’s mom was able to get him the help he needed when he needed it most. However, he realizes not everyone is as fortunate. Paden wants to help CRSOK further their mission. He believes his own personal experience will help him achieve this and make an impact on our community.

Today, Paden’s life looks a lot different!  He is focused on growing his family, He had an amazing college experience at Oklahoma State University (Go Pokes!), he has been lucky enough to land a job where he can work from home to better support his family (Fulcrum), and he has 3 energetic golden retrievers. None of this would have been possible if he had not gotten the help he needed. It means a lot to Paden to be in a position now where he can help others and make a true impact on the lives of those in our community.