Mental Health Association in Westmoreland County

<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Right Side</TITLE> </head><BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#990000" LINK="#990000" VLINK="#990000" ALINK="#990000"> <center><img src=longlogo.gif></center> <font size=3>The Mental Health Association in Westmoreland County is a United Way agency that works for better mental health and victory over mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders and bi-polar disorder through programs of advocacy, education and service. <p> Mental illness is one of the nation’s major health problems, yet it still bears a great deal of stigma and remains underfunded in research and services. The prevalence of mental illness is dramatic - one in five people will suffer a mental or emotional disorder at some point in their lives. Societal costs of untreated mental illness are staggering - $75 billion a year in worker absenteeism, lost productivity, inappropriate health care and/or incarceration and premature death. The MHA incorporates the general public into our advocacy efforts to ensure that individuals with mental illness are not perceived as nameless, faceless street people or the dangerous criminals portrayed in the media. They are our friends, neighbors and loved ones and they suffer from complex, bio-chemcal disorders that affect behavior, feelings and thoughts. An appropriately-funded mental health system that treats people with dignity and respect, and provides a seamless network of support, can prevent the tragedies that are sometimes associated with mental illness. By protecting the rights of individuals with mental illness, the MHA advocates for us all. <p> Since 1964 when the Mental Health Association was formed by a group of volunteers to examine the mental health needs of Westmoreland County, our aim has been to alleviate the stigma and public misunderstanding of mental illness, and to offer programs geared toward promoting good mental health and services to assist persons with mental illness. <p> To achieve a just, humane and healthy community in which all people are accorded respect, dignity and opportunities, the MHA believes that… <p> <UL> <LI> Justice, regardless of disability, allows for full participation in society. <LI> Access to a full array of high quality, community-based, integrated mental health services regardless of ability to pay is essential. <LI> Inclusion of consumers and families is essential in providing advocacy, services, education and training. <LI> Participation of broad-based citizen support is fundamental to the community’s mental health. </UL> <p> <hr> <p> <center> <p> <a href="info.html">About the MHA</a> <p> <a href="parentchild.html">Parent/Child Advocate Program</a> <p> <a href="external.html">External Advocate Program</a> <p> <a href="stepup.html">Step-Up Drop-In Center</a> <p> <a href="news.html">Mind Matters</a> <p> <a href="speakers.html">Speakers' Bureau</a> <p> <a href="government.html">Government Affairs</a> <p> Contact the Mental Health Association in Westmoreland County at <a href="mailto:mhawc@westol.com">mhawc@westol.com</a> <p> This page created and maintained by <a href="mailto:roote@dp.net"">Ann M. Davis-Gluyas</a> <p> <a target="_top" href="http://y.extreme-dm.com/s/?tag=mhawc"> <img name=im src="http://y0.extreme-dm.com/i/" height=38 border=0 width=41 alt=""></a><script language="javascript"> </script><script language="javascript1.2"> </script><script language="javascript"> </script><noscript><img height=1 width=1 alt="" src="http://y1.extreme-dm.com/z/?tag=mhawc&j=n"></noscript> </center> </BODY></HTML>