Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition

THE MISSION OF THE MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION ADVOCACY COALITION IS (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)TO UNIFY DIVERSE LOCAL VOICES TO ADVOCATE WITH THE GOALS OF (I) INCREASING AWARENESS OF ISSUES THAT IMPACT PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADDICTION DISORDERS; (II) ADVANCING POLICIES THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT OHIOANS AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION DISORDERS; AND (III) SUPPORT OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM WITH BROAD COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT.

RESEARCH AND EDUCATION - THE MHAC USES PROACTIVE AND REACTIVE STRATEGIES TO EDUCATE AND INCREASE AWARENESS REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION ISSUES AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, WHICH HELPS POLICYMAKERS UNDERSTAND THE BARRIERS TO SERVICES AND DECREASES THE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESSES AND ADDICTION DISORDERS.ADVOCACY - THE MHAC ALSO ADVOCATES FOR EFFICIENCIES AND INCREASED ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND SUPPORT, MAINTAINING COMMUNICATIONS WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION SERVICES, AND ADVOCATES FOR LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY CHANGES. ITS WORK IMPACTS THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 3.2 MILLION (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) OHIOANS HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. ACCORDING TO THE 2023 STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN AMERICA REPORT, 24% OF OHIO ADULTS (MORE THAN 2.1 MILLION) HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS. IN ADDITION, DATA COMPILED BY SAMHSA AND THE NATIONAL SURVEY ON DRUG USE AND HEALTH (NSDUH) SHOW THAT 709,000 ADULT OHIOANS REPORTED HAVING A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER DURING THE PAST YEAR. FINALLY, USING DATA FROM NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI), NSDUH, AND THE US CENSUS, THE MHAC ESTIMATES THAT MORE THAN 400,000 CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN OHIO HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.INCREASING ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS - THE MHAC PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING SERVICES TO ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE:- CONVENING MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND KEY PUBLIC OFFICIALS, INCLUDING HOSTING ANNUAL REGIONAL PUBLIC OFFICIAL RECEPTIONS- PROVIDING POLICY ANALYSIS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. THE MHAC REGULARLY PROVIDES ITS MEMBERS WITH TIMELY INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THEY CAN USE TO ADVOCATE WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EDUCATE STAKEHOLDERS REGARDING RELEVANT LEGISLATION, FUNDING, AND SERVICES. MEMBERS REPRESENT A DIVERSE SET OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION ISSUES, INCLUDING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, MAJOR MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS, FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, FAITH-BASED GROUPS, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.- EDUCATING MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS ON ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMUNITY.