PROGRAMS & SUPPORT
CONSUMER SUPPORT
Hospital Outreach Program:
Volunteers and staff provide information to patients in local mental health facilities (and to their families) about community support services prior to their discharge. Volunteers and staff sponsor social activities. Hospital Outreach also provides personal care items for emergency needs on psychiatric units and responds as able to special requests from psychiatric staff.
Representative Payee Services:
By referral, we handle the personal finances for persons with mental illness. In this capacity, we serve as the agent for individuals receiving Social Security benefits. We set up a budget for these individuals and pay their rent, utilities and other basic expenses, such as food and clothing.
SUPPORT GROUPS
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TIDES support group for persons with clinical depression, bi-polar disorder or other mood disorders. TIDES meets four times each month to share information, resource assistance and to develop self-advocacy skills. Speaker meetings are held to learn up-to-date information about mood disorders, medication and appropriate coping skills. For more information about TIDES, click here to see our TIDES page or go to our Support Groups page.
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ANXIETY DISORDER support group for persons with: panic disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder or a generalized anxiety disorder. This group meets twice a month to learn coping skills and up-to-date information about anxiety disorders, treatments and medication. For more information about this support group, click here to see our Anxiety Disorder Support Group page or go to the Support Groups page.
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PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS support group for adults with psychotic disorders, which includes schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorders. This group meets twice a month to learn coping skills and up-to-date information about psychotic disorders, treatments and medication. For more information about this support group, click here to see our Schizophrenia Support Group page or go to the Support Groups page.
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OUT! Adolescent Support Group SPEAK OUT! is a support group
for teens and adolescents dealing with a mental illness. Participants
are encouraged to bring a friend to the meetings to share experiences,
learn coping skills and learn about the successes and challenges of
living with a mental illness.
SPEAK OUT! meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:00 pm at Best Health in the Hanes Mall, Winston-Salem. Parental/guardian permission is a must to participate.
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TRIAD FRIENDS & FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP Support group for families with loved ones with eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Meetings are held the second Monday of each month at 7:00 pm at 1509 S. Hawthorne Road. Speaker/educational meetings on various topics related to eating disorders are provided as well as open discussion meetings.
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DUAL DIAGNOSIS SUPPORT GROUP The Dual Diagnosis Group is a peer lead group open to anyone who is dually diagnosed with mental illness and substance abuse, or believes that they fit this diagnosis. The meetings will be based on the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and be focused on issues of recovery.
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HIV/AIDS SUPPORT GROUP The Mental Health Association in Forsyth County is the host site of a new community support group for adults dealing, living and/or coping with HIV/AIDS.
The HIV/AIDS support group meetings will be held the SECOND THURSDAY of each month at 7:00 pm at the Mental Health Association in Forsyth County, 1509 S. Hawthorne Rd., Winston Salem.
For more information about the HIV/AIDS Support Group, call (336) 688-6711 or (336) 784-8009 or The Mental Health Association at (336) 768-3880.
VOLUNTEER GROUPS
Operation Santa Claus:
Gifts, special holiday, and year-round assistance activities are provided to Forsyth County mental health patients at local facilities and at John Umstead State Hospital in Butner, North Carolina. This project involves many community agencies, local businesses and civic groups through the donation of gifts, money and/or time. To volunteer for Operation Santa Claus, click on the link or visit our Volunteer page. To view our Operation Santa Claus Video CLICK HERE
FAMILY SUPPORT
Court Assistance Program:
Trained volunteers and staff provide emotional support, technical assistance and information and referral weekly to petitioners (family members) and respondents (consumers) during involuntary commitment hearings in Forsyth County. To volunteer for the Court Assistance Program, click on the link or visit our Volunteer page.
Family/Consumer Advocacy & Outreach:
Through information, referrals, service coordination and active participation within the mental health community, we work directly or on behalf of children and adults with mental illness, their families and friends and service providers to ensure that they live full and productive lives.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Information and Referral:
Agency provides information and referral to callers, walk-in visitors and to professionals in public and private practice on various topics including: specific mental illnesses, medication, community mental health services, community support programs and substance abuse services. Resource manuals are published by the Association and distributed community-wide for adult and for child and family mental health services.
Resource Center:
MHA has a lending library for the public containing books, pamphlets, articles, videos and tapes about mental health/mental illness services and topics. We also download additional mental health information through individualized requests.
Speakers Bureau:
Volunteers provide educational programs on mental health topics to businesses, clubs, schools and churches in Forsyth and surrounding counties.
Mental Health and Mental Illness Awareness Campaigns:
Promotional campaigns are held twice a year, May and October, to spread awareness, understanding and heighten sensitivity of mental health issues.
Systems Advocacy:
MHA advocates on the local, state and national levels to improve and expand mental health and mental illness services; encourages brain and mental illness research.