Mental Health Association Oklahoma

Mental Health Association Oklahoma offers a wide range of services aimed at supporting mental health and well-being. These services include mental health support, suicide prevention, employment support, drop-in centers, street outreach, street medicine, criminal justice reform, and housing support. The organization employs a Housing First model to ensure safe, decent, and affordable housing for individuals experiencing mental illness, homelessness, and substance use disorders. Peer-run drop-in centers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City provide essentials such as hygiene kits, bus passes, food, and water. The Street Medicine program in these cities offers primary patient care for homeless individuals impacted by mental illness or substance use issues. ‘A Better Way’ program provides an alternative to panhandling by paying individuals for community beautification work. QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training is available to empower various community groups to intervene effectively in crisis situations. The Intensive Outreach and Navigation (ION) team offers services to individuals with serious mental illness who frequently use crisis centers and psychiatric hospital beds. The Housing to Hope Youth Program (HHYP) provides transitional living for youth ages 18-24 at risk of homelessness. The Criminal Justice Reform department collaborates to redesign justice and health systems in Oklahoma, including the Special Services Docket and the FUSE/Bridge Program. Employment support services help individuals impacted by mental illness find and maintain jobs, including through the Altamont Bakery and supportive employment programs. The Youth Mental Health program educates 2nd-12th grade students in local schools. The Mental Health Assistance Center offers general mental health information, clinical consultation, screening, and assistance navigating Oklahoma’s mental health system. The annual Zarrow Mental Health Symposium features keynote speakers and breakout sessions on various mental health topics. The organization partners with the Tulsa Area United Way and the United Way of Central Oklahoma and is an affiliate of Mental Health America. Additionally, they offer a free-to-download children’s mental health activity and coloring book in English and Spanish.