MHA of Georgia’s mission is to enhance the mental health of all Georgians through education, outreach, and advocacy.
At MHA of Georgia, we envision a day when all Georgians will have access to culturally competent and appropriate mental health services for and information on prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery. Our programs emphasize positive mental health throughout the lifespan and for all people – regardless of age, diagnosis, or background. MHA of Georgia brings together mental health consumers, parents, advocates, and service providers for collaboration and action. By focusing on prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery, MHA of Georgia builds partnerships and develops wellness programs across a wide range of topics that reach all Georgians.
Mission
Mental Health America of Georgia works to enhance the mental health of all Georgians through education, outreach and advocacy.
Vision
Mental Health America of Georgia envisions a day when all Georgians will have access to culturally competent and appropriate mental health services and information on prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery.
Advocacy and Public Policy – With the only mental health lobbyist in Georgia who does not represent a particular profession, our organization is recognized as a leader in mental health advocacy and often acts as a resource for a number of Georgia legislators.
Atlanta Business Leaders Initiative (ABLI) on Cancer Prevention and Treatment –
This latest initiative implements evidence-driven treatment recommendations for the prevention and treatment of cancer by disseminating information to employers who provide health plan benefits, health and productivity programs, and wellness programs. The goal of the project is to determine and support a common approach for designing and administering employer benefits associated with the prevention and treatment of cancer. MHA of Georgia is working on the mental health aspect of this endeavor.
Kids on the Block – This puppet troupe utilizes multicultural, life-sized puppets that perform copyrighted scripts on mental health topics to promote mental wellness and stigma reduction for children, their families, and caregivers.
Project Healthy Moms – An initiative to increase awareness, identification, treatment, and support of perinatal mood disorders (i.e., postpartum depression) in Georgia, while also reducing the stigma associated with them. We do this through educational seminars for rising professionals/practitioners in the field, provider toolkits that facilitate the dissemination of perinatal depression screening and educational materials, and peer support/provider and resource linkage for women suffering from perinatal mood disorders.
Mental Health First Aid/Youth Mental Health First Aid – In collaboration with the state of Georgia and other agencies, MHA of Georgia offers Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Youth MHFA trainings throughout our state. Adult MHFA is a 8-hour training program that improves the mental health knowledge and skills of Georgians in responding to early-stage mental illnesses and mental health crises. YMHFA is an 8-hour training program that introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and most importantly, teaches individuals how to help a youth in crisis or experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge.
RESPECT Seminars – In partnership with Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and Slack Consulting, LLC, we are coordinating and presenting Joel Slack’s international seminar to over 8100 employees in the state’s psychiatric hospitals, regional offices, and central office. This seminar provides unique insights from a patient’s perspective into mental illness, the treatment and recovery process, and emphasizes the value of respect in a healthcare setting. The seminar is designed to help organizations focus on the fundamentals of caring that invoke respect and sensitivity both for patients and employees.
RESPECT Institute – In partnership with Slack Consulting, LLC, Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network, MHA of Georgia is implementing the RESPECT Institute throughout the state. Each Institute is a 3.5 day program which provides individuals with the skills and coaching necessary to transform their mental illness, treatment, and recovery experiences into educational and inspirational presentations. These presentations are then delivered to a broad range of audiences throughout Georgia. Through these efforts, we are creating a statewide group of individuals that have the means by which to educate our communities and promote compassion, acceptance, and encouragement to seek help for mental illness.
