Mental Health Association Of The Southern Tier

Project hope - in response to the covid-19 pandemic, mhast began a collaboration with ny project hope, the state's crisis counseling response to help community members understand and cope with their reactions and emotions while the pandemic continues. Ultimately, the program's goal is to stimulate individual and community resilience. At the core of ny project hope is a team of crisis counselors who provide free emotional support, educational materials, and referrals to help community members move toward healing

Our house/crisis respite - our house is a voluntary respite center offering an alternative to emergency hospitalization for individuals 18 years and older experiencing psychiatric crisis. Guests receive 24-hour support from peers (individuals with lived experiences of receiving Mental Health services and trained to provide support to others) in a friendly, safe and supportive home-like environment for up to 5 days per stay. Our house fosters warmth, empathy and compassion, together with a wide range of recovery oriented services including self-advocacy education, self-help-training, along with group and one-on-one activities.

Crisis intervention - crisis intervention services is a community partnership of law enforcement, Mental Health professionals, consumers and their families. the goal of the program is to help individuals with Mental illnesses access medical and/or community based treatment rather than place them in the criminal justice system. the mobile team accompanies the police on 911 calls for individuals experiencing a Mental Health crisis. Individuals are then assessed for risk to self or others and connected with appropriate referrals and resources. the program also provides ongoing Mental Health training to law enforcement officials.

Peer advocacy - the advocacy program encourages and promotes self-help and peer support. These services help to empower recipients to become self-directed and to maintain a healthy recovery process. the advocacy program utilizes walk-in hours, meetings, and presentations to provide opportunities and give information to consumers. the advocacy program is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of recipients by aiding them in their personal struggle against stigma. Peer advocates help recipients to realize their personal strengths, which allows them to succeed. Assistance is also available in immediate and long-term goals such as financial stability, housing issues and further education.

Outreach & education - the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier works closely with various organizations to raise, not only funds, but awareness of our mission and the wonderful work we do to help those in need of support, education and advocacy. In addition to the events we organize in-house, others are organized by community members to benefit mhast: binghamton pond festival, timm's memorial golf tournament, wings of hope and rock against suicide. In 2018, new york state passed an unprecedented law mandating Mental Health education in all schools k-12 and we have been given more opportunity to speak to the students about difd power to the purple to promote important conversations and to break down the stigma associated with Mental illness. the organization continues to offer Mental Health first aid, an eight-hour course that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to people who are struggling with Mental Health or substance use challenges and connect them with appropriate support when necessary.

Sunrise wellness center - the sunrise wellness center is a peer run program promoting recovery for individuals with Mental Health diagnoses. the program encourages a self-directed approach to Mental Health services, and promotes Mental, physical, and spiritual wellness.

Family peer support services - family peer support services (fpss) are an array of formal and informal services and supports provided to families raising a child who is experiencing social, emotional, developmental, substance use and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, or community. Fpss provide a structured, strength-based relationship between a family peer advocate and the parent or family member for the benefit

Supportive crisis stabilization center - the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier partnered with care compass to establish a new supportive crisis stabilization center. the goal of the space is to help individuals that experience Mental Health or substance abuse disorder related crisis.