By: Paul Gionfriddo, MHA president and CEO, November 6th, 2017
"Yesterday, our country once again was faced with the horror of another mass shooting, this time while Americans were praying in a church in Texas.
The president and others on Capitol Hill were quick to say this was not a gun issue, but a mental health issue. That's just talk that masks inaction on their part. In fact - this wasn't a mental health issue. It increasingly appears to have been a preventable tragedy - if public officials had been listening to mental health advocates for the past several years. Every time we have been asked to react to events like these, we have pointed out the obvious - that one of strongest predictors of future violence is past violence...continue reading
High Rates of Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders Reflects our State's Lack of Invest in Education and Safety Net Programs
MHA AZ recently put out a press release in response to the State of Mental Health in America 2017 report. The report utilizes data from 15 national data bases and surveys collected during 2015 to provide a portrait of mental health in America.
In a comparison of states, Arizona received an overall ranking of 49th, just above the state of Nevada and just below the state of Mississippi. As the state affiliate chapter Board Members, we know that this ranking does not reflect the innovation and progressive community-based integrated behavioral health services available to some in Arizona, but rather point to other troubling indicators of the general state of behavioral health and wellbeing in the state that we call home. Continue reading MHA AZ's press release here
Read Full MHA State of Mental Health in America 2017 report
here
Mental Health America of Arizona
2018 SEEDS CONFERENCE
Awareness, Advocacy, Achievement
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Glendale Community College, 6000 W. Olive Ave, Glendale, AZ 85302
Mental Health America of Arizona's upcoming Seeds Conference seeks to highlight cutting edge practices and approaches used to address current and emerging issues in behavioral health. Through critical conversations, we will enhance Awareness, Advocacy, and Achievement as it pertains to mental health and recovery. This years Seeds Conference will focus on innovative strategies and interventions being used within the Education System, Workplace, and Community.
Call for Proposals and a Save the Date will be sent out shortly!
MHA AZ Spotlight on a New Partnership!
MHA AZ is proudly collaborating with the Care Enough to Get in the Way movement which bridges the gap between our local community, the government, and law enforcement in a positive way.
The Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life conference is student led, and includes a conference team consisting of four members, representing four sectors (Government, Education, Business and Non-Profit) along with members of the local police departments, teachers, parents and student facilitators all coming together to tackle real issues facing our schools.
The attendees come up with their own ideas on the best way to communicate to a trusted adult when they hear or see cries for help such as bullying, cyber-bullying, drug addiction, depression, and ongoing threats against others. Following the conference, students bring their ideas into the schools and encourage peers to Care Enough to Get in the Way.
2nd Annual Speak Up - Stand Up - Save a Life Youth Conference
