Volunteers and Internships

Please note: While we are accepting applications, the review process and placements are delayed at this time. Please don’t hesitate and reach out to internships@mhanc.org with any questions.

Mental Health Association of Nassau County provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, marital status, sex, disability, familial status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or any other category protected under federal, state or local law. Mental Health Association of Nassau County complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

We value and rely upon your volunteer support.  The donation of your time helps to keep our agency vital and has a profound impact not only on the lives of those we serve, but also on our community as a whole.

The following are volunteer opportunities available through the MHANC:

1. Internships and Volunteer Opportunities (Unpaid)

Please note that the MHANC requires a minimum commitment of ten (10) hours per week to intern or volunteer.

Students seeking a work experience in the mental health field may find a meaningful experience in one of our programs or services.  Availability of internships is dependent on the availability of supervisors.

Please download our Internship and Volunteer Placement Application e-mail the completed document to internships@mhanc.org

2. Compeer Program

A Compeer is an adult who volunteers to spend time each week with a person recovering from a psychiatric disability who is living in the community.  The friendship that develops becomes important to both the Compeer and the adult he or she is meeting with.

For further information about the Compeer Program, please contact the Compeer Coordinator at:

Phone:  (516) 489-2322, ext. 1260

E-mail: alewis@mhanc.org

3.  The Players

The Mental Health Players is an interactive improv group comprised of community volunteers who perform throughout the year for civic and/or religious organizations, senior groups, schools and more. The Players perform realistic vignettes about mental health challenges, giving the audience a dynamic opportunity to learn about the different faces of mental illness and the reality of stigma.

Performances are scheduled by appointment, both day and evening.

Become a Player

If you like to act and are comfortable with improvisation, you can volunteer your time and talents to promote awareness and understanding of the stigmatized mental health world.  Join The Players and experience a unique opportunity to help fight stigma through Nassau County.

For further information please contact Rachel Priest

Phone:  (516) 489-2322, ext. 1251

E-mail:  rpriest@mhanc.org

WE'RE HERE TO HELP

Nearly 1 in 5 adults, more than 18%, in the U.S. experience mental illness in a given year.

5-6% of American adults have a serious mental illness; about 2% have disorders that are long-term and disabling, contributing to very high rates of unemployment and poor living conditions.

More than 450 million people around the world live with mental illnesses.

20-25% of Americans have a diagnosable mental and/or substance use disorder in any given year: 6.8 million people with an addiction have a mental illness.

There were approximately 20.6 million people in the United States over the age of 12 with an addiction in 2011, excluding tobacco.

Over 3 million people in 2011 received treatment for their addiction.

The Long Island Coalition estimated that there are approximately 3,000 homeless people in Nassau County and 64 of them are living on the streets.

30-40% of homeless adults and 15-20% of people in jails and prisons in the United States have a serious mental illness. This is often accompanied by substance abuse problems in both these populations.

As many as 10% of children have a serious emotional disturbance, contributing to school failure and other serious problems.

Just over 20 percent of children, either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental disorder.

It is estimated that 1 in 68 children in the US have autism.

As the number of older adults doubles over the next two decades so will the number of older adults with mental disorders. This includes 5.5 million older adults who currently have Alzheimer’s disorder or other dementia. Without advances in prevention, this will rise to 11 million older adults with dementia by 2050.

11 to 20% of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom) have been diagnosed with PTSD.

30% of soldiers develop mental problems within 3 to 4 months of being home.

Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (aka PTSD, an anxiety disorder that follows experiencing a traumatic event) are the most common mental health problems faced by returning troops.

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