Forty years ago, people with mental illnesses were warehoused and even shackled in huge state mental hospitals, often for their whole lives. Afraid of mental illnesses, we believed there was no cure. People with mental illnesses existed in a world of secrecy and shame that trapped them and their families. We now know that practically every family in this country is touched in some way by mental illnesses, which are extremely treatable.
We’ve come so very far from those dark days. Thankfully, Mental Health America of Hawai`i has fought for 67 years to transform mental illness into mental wellness by promoting mental health, preventing mental illness, reducing the stigma, and improving the care, treatment, and empowerment of those with mental illnesses – children, adults, elders, and their families. Here’s what MHA does:
- Youth Suicide Prevention. Hawai`i has double the national rate of teenagers attempting or planning suicide. MHA is reducing teen depression and suicide by helping peers, adults, and youth-serving organizations identify and intervene with depressed/suicidal youth.
- Healing the Trauma of War. MHA is identifying gaps in services for returning National Guard and Reserves and their families regarding PTSD, mental health problems, substance abuse, suicide, domestic violence, child abuse, impact on children, Traumatic Brain Injury, and sexual trauma of female soldiers. I 2010, MHA will convene Town Hall meetings about soldiers' needs.
- Invisible Children’s Project. Most seriously mentally ill adults have children, and some are raising them, but often their mental health providers are not aware of this. This project aims to support families in which a parent has a mental illness.
- Transition Age Youth. Addressing needs of vulnerable at-risk young adults: those in the age range of 16-26 who “age out” of foster care, mental health, juvenile justice, and special education systems, or who are homeless or drop out of school.
- Brown Bag Mental Health Seminars. MHA has presented workshops on Postpartum Depression, Teen Suicide, Military Mental Health, Bipolar Illness, and Eating Disorders. The seminars are open to the public, providers, policymakers, mental health consumers, and families.
- Finding Help. MHA produces the only comprehensive guide to mental health services in the state, and staffs a daily telephone help line.
- Live Your Life Well. MHA provides presentations to organizations and workplaces offering ten clinically proven actions everyone can take to protect and enhance their mental wellness and cope better with stress.
- Advocacy. MHA works tirelessly to advocate for improvement in the treatment and care of people with mental health problems.