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The Mental Health Association in Greensboro provides leadership in identifying and addressing mental health needs and serves as an advocate for the mentally ill.

Services:  Public Mental Health Education and Referral increases access to health care for people with, or at risk of, specialized health needs. It was allocated $76,202 for 2009-10.

Supportive Services reduces the number of people with behavioral health or substance abuse problems. It was allocated $66,807 for 2009-10. It served more than 768 people in 2008-09.

Need: “One in four people will experience a mental health condition at some point in their life,” said Paul Evans of the Mental Health Association. “Participation in our free support groups has been on the increase and calls for information and referral have increased.”.

The effect of reduced funding: “A reduction in funding would force us to decide to reduce or discontinue some of these programs:”

• 10 support groups led by peers doing well on their own recovery.
• Latino-specific support groups and wellness/recovery classes.
• Suicide prevention classes.

With additional funding: “We could offer:”

• Additional wellness classes.
• Additional suicide prevention classes targeting local colleges and universities; the Latino population, which has the highest rate of suicide of any ethnic group; and seniors.
• Additional recovery classes with an emphasis on job readiness targeting persons who have no place to live.
• Expansion of support groups at locations such as the Interactive Resource Center and Women’s Resource Center.