Our Programs and Services

The Mental Health Association of Nassau County is dedicated to serving individuals facing mental health challenges, including veterans, at-risk youth and families. Our mission embodies evidence-based practices, education, and resources for the community in both clinical and residential settings, while maintaining a standard of excellence that is recognized throughout Long Island.

We are committed to improving mental health and wellness in the community through the delivery of direct services, as well as through advocacy, education, and training of behavioral health care professionals. We strive to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness and advocate for changes in services, policies, and procedures. We deliver services through an array of programming unmatched elsewhere in the community.

Veterans Services:

  • Vet2Vet – Veterans Peer Support and networking groups for Nassau County Veterans as part of the Hoseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Project
  • Veterans Health Alliance of Long Island (VHALI) – building a friendly veteran community by promoting the health and well-being of Long Island veterans and their families through advocacy, outreach, training, peer support and awareness.

Rehabilitation and Support Services:

  • Gathering Place PROS – Day program focusing on Personalized Recovery Oriented Services, where adults with mental illnesses actively participate in skill development toward employment, housing, education, wellness self-management and improving their health while working toward community integration.
  • SOAR (Specialized Opportunities for Achieving Recovery) – SOAR is a “Clubhouse-like” program for recovery and social skills.
  • Peer Services – This division of MHANC is staffed by trained peers with shared personal experiences in the mental health systems and recovery. Services include:
    • Phone Link – Peer-to-peer warm line offers consumers a chance to talk to other consumers about recovery, relationships, work, school, problem-solving, etc.
    • Turquoise House and Turquoise House II – Peer respite wellness centers that allow guests to use crisis as an opportunity, providing connection, hope, and a successful alternative to hospitalization.
    • Peer-led support groups
  • Financial Management – Helping those living with Mental Illness regain their financial independence.
  • Health Home Care Coordination – Provides a professional to help navigate the mental health system and link individuals to services and support creating a comprehensive plan of care meeting physical, mental health and social service needs.
  • Medicaid Service Coordination – A service that helps both adults and children with developmental disabilities gain access to necessary supports and services supporting community inclusion. Services include, but are not limited to, medical, social, educational and psycho-social needs..
  • Crisis Respites for Families – This program provides an out of home residential stay for children with mental illness allowing families to benefit from some time apart.
  • Hospital Discharge Coordination – Coordinates all children’s psychiatric discharges from Nassau County Hospitals to ensure comprehensive community linkages and supports.
  • Compeer Program – Matches consumers with volunteer mentors to work towards recovery.
  • Adult Family Support – Weekly support groups for adult family members and friends of consumers living with mental illnesses.
  • Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) – Providing a wide variety of sperson-centered supports and services in non-institutional settings that enable adults and children with mental health challenges to remain at home and in the community.

Housing Services:

  • Cushman House, Garvey House, Walden House – Homes for adults with mental illnesses, providing needed around-the-clock support to focus on recovery.
  • The Dales – Apartment programs that provide the next step in mental health residential housing.
  • Supported Housing – Provides a number of housing opportunities for people living with mental illness to live on their own.

Education & Training Services:

  • Continuing Education for behavioral health professionals – Community-based psycho-educational training for behavioral health professionals and the community at large.
  • Community Outreach and Education – Provide information and educational materials to increase the public awareness about mental health issues and community-based resources.
  • The Players – Volunteer theater troupe that uses vignettes and performances to help eliminate the stigma of Mental Illness.

Advocacy & Community Relations:

  • Public Policy – We advocate for individuals living with mental illness, in an attempt to improve service delivery, modify laws and support people in their recovery.
  • Children’s Advocacy Committee – A grassroots group comprising parents and professionals who are dedicated to the recognition of children’s mental health; timely access to comprehensive, quality services and equity in treatment.

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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