Advocacy

"Our country must make a commitment: Americans with mental illness deserve our understanding, and they deserve excellent care. They deserve a health system that treats their illness with the same urgency as a physical illness."
~President George W. Bush~

The World Health Organization has identified mental illnesses as the leading cause of disability worldwide.

Mental health issues are related to many of today's tragic headlines, including school shootings, the homeless, and the latest estimate that 24.4% of male inmates and 50.3% of female inmates in Oklahoma have a history of or exhibit a form of mental illness. The Oklahoma County Jail is said to be the State's largest mental institution. The stigma of mental illness often prevents people from seeking the treatment that they need.

The Mental Health Association of Central Oklahoma actively joins with other agencies and community partners to support public policies that offer answers to the problems that persons with mental illness face.

The legislative initiatives of the Mental Health Association have actively supported Mental Health Courts, worked with state and federal legislators to increase funding of  Mental Health and Substance Abuse services and to expand needed mental health programs.

If you would like to help advocate for better mental health services in Oklahoma, email Mentalhealth@coxinet.net.
 

The Mental Health Association needs your support and your participation to educate the public and help those individuals in need of services. We hope that you will join us and help us find better solutions to today's mental health problems. To donate click here.