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What is the Mental Health Association in Delaware?
The mission of the Mental Health Association in Delaware is to deliver mental health education, advocacy and support, and to collaborate to provide mental health leadership in Delaware.
The Mental Health Association in Delaware (MHA) is a statewide, nonprofit organization founded in 1932 to promote mental health. MHA provides services throughout Delaware, and our focus is education, support and advocacy for mental health issues.
MHA is an affiliate of the National Mental Health Association (NMHA). With over 325 affiliates, NMHA represents the largest and oldest voluntary citizen's organization concerned with mental health and mental illness.
Mental illness is a major public health problem, with one in five Americans experiencing depression or anxiety disorders every year. This means more than 100,000 Delawareans, including children, are affected by these illnesses annually.
Depression, if left untreated, is as costly to the American economy as heart disease or AIDS. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the annual cost of depression in the United States is estimated to be $43.7 billion dollars in lost productivity, absenteeism, treatment cost and mortality.
MHA's staff, friends and volunteers seek to combat these problems by:
- Responding to more than 1,700 calls per year from persons seeking help for themselves or for a friend or loved one with a psychiatric disorders
- Sponsoring free support groups for those experiencing depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, dual disorders and for those surviving the suicide of a friend or loved one
- Coordinating National Depression Screening Day in Delaware
- Conducting worksite education seminars to educate employees about depression and anxiety disorders
- Educating the community on signs and symptoms of depressive and anxiety disorder in children and adults and providing resources
- Advocating for adequate and affordable health care for all who need it
- Emphasizing the co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders with other physical illnesses such as cardiac and respiratory problems
- Collaborating with other organizations to co-sponsor educational events to reach targeted audiences
- Coordinating media campaigns to educate the community about mental health issues and needed changes
MHA is funded by the United Way of Delaware, community contributions, government and private grants, trusts and foundations.
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