Statements
Mission
Mental Health America of the MidSouth (formerly known as the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee) was founded in 1946 and its mission is to connect the community with specialized mental health and wellness resources that improve the quality of life where mental health needs exist.
Background
Mental Health America of the MidSouth (MHAMS), the oldest mental health organization in Middle Tennessee, was organized in 1946 under the leadership of Dr. Frank Luton, a member of Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine and the first psychiatrist in Middle Tennessee. While affiliated with Mental Health America, MHA MidSouth maintains the status of a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization independent of MHA. MHA MidSouth advocates on behalf of the mentally ill in public policy discussions and works toward humane and accessible systems of care. MHA MidSouth identifies unmet community mental health needs and develops programs and services to meet these needs. MHA MidSouth seeks to provide services that are not available elsewhere in the community, avoiding duplication.
Impact
Accomplishments: (1) Our Erasing the Stigma education program continued to reach a broad audience in children & youth throughout Tennessee. (2) MHA MidSouth continues to see an increase in attendance in our Mental Health Academy program which provides education to improve the quality of care and knowledge to mental health consumers. (4) Over 30,000 individuals take advantage of MHA MidSouth's free online mental health screenings annually.
Needs
1. Personnel: The agency individuals to continue and enrich MHA MidSouth's Multicultural Outreach Program, both are fluent Spanish speakers. It is important for us to have great staff, our most valued resource. 2. Marketing and PR: MHA MidSouth re-branded and rolled out a new website to make access to mental health information even more readily available. 3. Office Environment: At times our staff can get burned out by working with suicide, Alzheimer's, and such issues on a daily basis, anything that can provide a moment of reprieve is always appreciated.
CEO Statement
We as society would not tolerate initial treatment of breast cancer at stage 4, and we would never wait until stage 4 to start treating kidney disease. So why do we wait to start treating mental health when there is a crisis, incarceration, or suicide attempt? Today, more Tennesseans die from suicide than from automobile accidents. Half of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14, but people often do not get help for another 10 years. In Tennessee, Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death, and suicide is the 9th leading cause of death. You can make a difference by promoting our screenings, volunteering at our office, leading a committee, or by making a financial contribution to support our programs. MHA MidSouth is the leader in mental health education, referrals, advocacy, and collaboration. We hope you'll choose to make a difference through us.
Board Chair Statement
One in five of us will experience a mental health condition at some time in our lives. That illness can take the form of an acute depression or anxiety from which we recover relatively quickly, or it can be a chronic, multi-year struggle against schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The effects can range from mild to severely incapacitating. But, the biggest challenge with mental illness is that it is misunderstood. Mental illness IS treatable, but it is impossible to treat when sufferers are too ashamed to seek help or when they have no idea where to look for it. Mental Health America of the MidSouth commits every resource it has to three things: * Educating people of all ages about the many types of mental illness, ways to ensure mental wellness, and the reasons why mental illness is no different from any other illness. * Helping people find treatment and other resources when they or someone they know is experiencing symptoms of a mental illness. * Informing public policy about the realities and challenges of living with a mental illness. I am proud to be associated with this great organization and am passionate about our work. I have seen in my own life, in the lives of friends and family, and in the lives of my clients? the terribly unsettling effects when mental illness blindsides a person or family. It can be one of the most confusing and frightening experiences of a person's life. Our driving goal at MHA MidSouth is to make sure that every person who ever finds themselves or someone they love in that position knows that there is a place where they can find out about every possible resource available for help. Thanks for sharing our goal.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Mental Health & Crisis Intervention - Mental Health Associations - Multipurpose |
| Secondary Category: | Mental Health & Crisis Intervention - Alliances & Advocacy |
| Tertiary Category: | Human Services - Ethnic/Immigrant Services |
Areas Served
| TN - Bedford |
| TN - Cannon |
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Clay |
| TN - Coffee |
| TN - Cumberland |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - DeKalb |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Fentress |
| TN - Franklin |
| TN - Giles |
| TN - Hickman |
| TN - Houston |
| TN - Humphreys |
| TN - Jackson |
| TN - Lawrence |
| TN - Lewis |
| TN - Lincoln |
| TN - Macon |
| TN - Marshall |
| TN - Maury |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Moore |
| TN - Overton |
| TN - Perry |
| TN - Pickett |
| TN - Putnam |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Smith |
| TN - Stewart |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Trousdale |
| TN - Van Buren |
| TN - Warren |
| TN - Wayne |
| TN - White |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
