Andy SwangerRyan Nicole Hasper

About MHA in Catt. County

The Mental Health Association in Cattaraugus County, Inc. is affiliated with the Mental Health Association in New York State, and with the National Mental Health Association, which is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness.

Non-profit Wants to provide access to services, promote awareness,

and help develop an improved community mental health system.

Provide a wide array of services for both adults and children

Operation Dignity National movement to restore old abandoned

Psychiatric Hospital Cemeteries across the country

Patients were marked by number not name All the chains and shackles that were used in

the mental hospitals were melted together to make their symbol (liberty bell)

Their mission: to give people back their dignity Locally they discovered the names of 107/1200

graves at Gowanda Psychiatric Center

Still looking for more volunteers

The Bell

The bell was cast in 1953 from chains and shackles that had been used to restrain people in mental hospitals, and bears this inscription:

"Cast from the shackles which bound them, this bell shall ring out hope for the mentally ill and victory over mental illness."

Camp New Horizon

Need to be referred by counselor For emotional and behavioral

children 2:1 counselor to youth Allegany State Park (120 children)

Family Support Services Provides support to families in Cattaraugus

Country that have a children with emotional or behavioral challenges

Support be provided in home or community Learn better skills (use at home or school) Go to school to talk to parents/counselor Meet other parents Assist families in creating goals and

devising action plans for desired changes within the family

Friendship Club

Have to have a membership ( mental illness)

$6 fee Offer activities/crafts Dinner (they create the menu and

make the food) Fundraisers to do trips

Compeer Compeer matches community volunteers in

friendship relationships with children and adults who are receiving mental health treatment

Meet once a week to do something together Volunteer opportunities: one-on-one

friendships, Compeer e-mail, Compeer calling, and group matches

Volunteer s must submit monthly reports to support ongoing communication and ongoing program funding requirements.

Peer Advocacy

Overcome mental illness Meet with other adults who’s going

through what their going through Tips on filling out forms, paperwork,

and legal suggestions

Services they provide

Speak to school Have to have professional diagnosis

(except for helping parents with problem)

Employees are screened People from all over can participate

Resources

http://www.mhacatt.org/index.php?id=32

http://www.nmha.org/

Ms. Joann McAndrew, Executive Director