In the late 1960s two graduate students from Wesleyan University founded Gilead as a research project. They were volunteering at Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) and noted an increasing number of individuals who kept returning to the hospital because they were faced with overwhelming odds once they returned to the community – no finances, no living situation, no employment, and no social support systems. They wanted to stop the cycle and help individuals in need. This is the foundation of Gilead

In 2019, Gilead announced a merger with Farrell Treatment Center. Based in New Britain, Farrell has been providing high quality and intensive treatment for addiction and substance abuse for 45 years. This merger created an opportunity to expand our continuum of care to include a full range of mental health recovery services along with residential and outpatient addiction/mental health services.

For over 50 years, Gilead has been the only non-profit organization operating mental health residential programs in Middlesex County. Gilead takes pride in the fact that we reach out to local communities to create a community response and establish a firm commitment to improving the quality of life for individuals with mental health needs. It is the commitment to this history and to these values that is the driving force for our mission and purpose.