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About Us

About Mental Health America

Mental Health America (MHA) – founded in 1909 – is the nation's leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. Our work is driven by our commitment to promoting mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk, integrated care, services, and supports for those who need it, with recovery as the goal. Much of our current work is guided by the Before Stage 4 (B4Stage4) philosophy – that mental health conditions should be treated long before they reach the most critical points in the disease process. Learn more about who we are.

MHA Affiliates: In Your Community

MHA has an established record of effective national and grassroots advocacy and achievement. With over 200 affiliates in 41 states, 6,500 affiliate staff and over 10,000 volunteers, we are a powerful voice for healthy communities throughout the nation. Find your local affiliate and learn more about their work.

Our Programs & Initiatives

Our programs and initiatives fulfill our mission of promoting mental health, preventing mental disorders and achieving victory over mental illness through advocacy, education, research and services. 

Public Policy: MHA collaborates with a wide audience of affiliates and supporters to advance policy recommendations that promote our mission.

Peer Advocacy, Supports, and Services: MHA works to protect the rights and dignity of individuals with lived experience nationwide, and ensure that peers and their voices are integrated into all areas of the organization with a focus on inclusion, self-directed care and recovery.

Education and Outreach: MHA helps Americans of all ages better understand prevention, early identification and intervention through a variety of information, online tools and events.

Learn more about how we are advocating for changes in policy and educating the public about mental health and wellness.

The Mental Health Bell

Cast from the shackles and chains that used to bind people with mental illnesses, the Mental Health Bell rings out hope for victory over mental illness. It also represents hope for the future. Ring the Bell.

Standards of Excellence

MHA is proud to adhere to standards of excellence across the health and nonprofit fields.

MHA adheres to the 38 standards adopted by the National Health Council’s Board of Directors to ensure that Voluntary Health Agency members maintain the highest levels of transparency, accountability, and public stewardship. The standards cover the areas of governance, human resources, programs, fundraising, finance, accounting and reporting, and evaluation. Click here to visit our member profile.

MHA meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability for BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Accredited national charities (i.e., charities that are found to meet all 20 BBB Charity Standards) have the option of indicating, on websites and in promotional materials, that they meet BBB Charity Standards through the display of the national charity seal. To qualify for use of the seal, charities must be found by the BBB WGA to meet its standards, sign a license agreement and pay an annual fee. Participation in the seal program is wholly voluntary.  Click here to visit our BBB Wise Giving Alliance profile and report.

MHA reached GuideStar's highest level of recognition indicating our commitment to transparency. A GuideStar Seal of Transparency indicates that a nonprofit has provided key information in its Nonprofit Profile. By providing up-to-date information, nonprofits allow potential donors and funders to make educated decisions about the work they do to make the world a better place.  Click here to visit our GuideStar profile.

Groups included on the CharityWatch Top-Rated list generally spend 75% or more of their budgets on programs, spend $25 or less to raise $100 in public support, do not hold excessive assets in reserve, have met CharityWatch's governance benchmarks, and receive "open-book" status for disclosure of basic financial information and documents to CharityWatch. Please see the Criteria section of the website for more information on the rating criteria and methodology that CharityWatch adheres to. Click here to access our CharityWatch profile.

 

500 Montgomery Street, Suite 820
 Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone (703) 684.7722

Toll Free (800) 969.6642

Fax (703) 684.5968

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