Each year, Mental Health
America of Wisconsin (MHA) helps thousands of people find answers to their questions. Whether the search is for a therapist who accepts Medicaid, a support group, or information on specific mental illness, we can provide timely assistance.
People looking for information and assistance can call MHA at (414) 276-3122 or
send us a message us for a timely response.
Below, please find a list of our most frequently asked questions:
Q: What does the Mental Health
America of
Wisconsin do?
A: Mental Health
America of Wisconsin (MHA) promotes the rights and well being of people with a mental illness. Our mission is to promote mental health, prevent mental disorders, and achieve victory over mental illness through advocacy, education, information and support. Essentially,we are an association that provides information about mental illness to individuals, professional organizations and the community.
Q: Are you part of the
County
Mental Health Complex?
A: No. The County Mental Health Complex provides direct services to patients with a mental illness. We are a private, non-profit (501c3) organization affiliated with Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association) that provides information, support, advocacy, education and support related to mental health.
Q: Can you recommend a counselor, therapist or psychiatrist?
A: No, we can't recommend or endorse a specific therapist, counselor or psychiatrist. However, we can give you information about certain clinics, hospitals or county facilities that offer mental health services specific to your needs.
Q: Does the Mental Health
America of
Wisconsin provide counseling?
A: No. We do not provide counseling or direct services.
Q: Who does the Mental Health
America of
Wisconsin serve?
A: MHA serves individuals, schools, workplaces, senior centers, support groups and community organizations in
Milwaukee
County by promoting the rights and well being of people with mental disorders. MHA is strongly committed to ensuring that quality service reaches minority, low income, women, children and elderly communities.The people we serve range from those who are mentally healthy, such as those attending workplace presentations and training, to those who are struggling to recover from a serious mental disorder, such as parents in the Invisible Children's Program. We serve a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures, family types and age groups.
Q: Does Mental Health
America of
Wisconsin provide any programs or support groups for people with mental illness?
A: Yes. The Invisible Children's Program targets parents with chronic mental illness and teaches them life skills that help them raise healthy children. The goal is to keep parents and their children together through support and advocacy. Our Survivors Helping Survivors support group is for people who have suffered the loss of a loved one to suicide. The group is led by mental health professionals who volunteer their services. We also have support groups for people suffering from depression or anxiety.
Q: How does the Mental Health
America advocate for people with mental illness?
A: One way we support people with mental illness is through legislative advocacy, which keeps people informed about proposals in Congress and the Wisconsin Legislature related to mental health. MHA serves on several mental health committees, including the Governor's Council on Mental Health, Wisconsin United for Mental health, and the MHA Council of Wisconsin.
We also are involved in several statewide initiatives. The Prevention/Early Intervention in Mental Health Initiative which seeks to intervene earlier with persons at risk of mental illness or who are experiencing early signs and symptoms of mental illness.
Q: Is anyone available to address mental health issues at our next meeting, program, special event, or class presentation?
A: Yes. Mental Health
America of
Wisconsin Speakers Bureau may be able to help. Our volunteer speakers are health professionals with expertise and interest in a variety of areas and can present on a number of topics to including: Understanding mental health and mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, Red flag behaviors in children, late-life depression, suicide prevention, managing stress,and mental health and spirituality. If you have a topic in mind that you don't see listed, please call us at (414) 276-3122 and we will try to accommodate your request. When you call to arrange for a speaker, have your date, location, and group size in mind. Also, please try to call at least three to four weeks in advance.
Q: I want to involuntarily commit someone. What is the process?
A: The Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel initiates the three-party petition process for involuntary commitment under Chapter 51 of the Wisconsin Statutes. A phone interview will be conducted first to determine whether the situation meets the requirements of law. For more information on Chapter 51 in
Wisconsin, download this document. Read a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article on the three-party commitment process.
Q: Who funds Mental Health
America of
Wisconsin?
A: MHA is funded through a variety of sources including: Astrazeneca; Child Abuse and Prevention Fund; Faye McBeath Foundation; Janssen Pharmacuetical; Charles E. Kubly Foundation; Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation; Greater Milwaukee Foundation; Bonnie and Leon Joseph Philanthropic Fund; Pam Kriger Philanthropic Fund; Milwaukee County Department of Human Services; Nicholas Family Foundation; Northwestern Mutual Foundation; Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation; Jack and Lucy Rosenberg Trust Fund; United Way of Greater Milwaukee; Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services; state and county grants, as well as other corporate contributors, individual donations and membership fees.
