Influencing mental health policy: the MHA approach

The Mental Health Association was founded in 1909 as a citizen advocate organization for the mentally ill. Today it embraces more than a million members in nearly 850 chapters nationwide and conducts numerous programs designed to prevent mental illness, promote mental health, and improve mental health services. In recent years it has played an increasingly active role in influencing mental health policy at the federal level. This article focuses on the association's activities in the political arena.