Mary Hayashi – Mental Health Organization Spotlight: Didi Hirsch
Hi there, I’m Mary Hayashi, and I’m excited to share my experience with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. Mental health has always been important to me, and I’ve advocated for mental health resources and awareness for many years.
Didi Hirsch, Mental Health Services, is a non-profit organization providing mental health and substance abuse services to individuals and families in Southern California. Their mission is to help people improve their mental health and well-being, and they do this by providing a wide range of services to those who need it most.
History and Overview of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has been serving the community for over 75 years, and its history is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to quality mental health care. They offer various services, including therapy, crisis support, and suicide prevention programs, to help individuals and families cope with mental health challenges.
Their services are available to people of all ages and backgrounds, including children, adults, and seniors. In addition, they serve individuals and families with various mental health and substance abuse issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction.
Didi Hirsch, Mental Health Services, is committed to breaking down the stigma surrounding mental illness and promoting mental health awareness. They offer educational resources and programs to help people understand mental health and encourage them to seek help when needed.
The following section share my connection to Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services.
Dr. Kita Curry, former CEO/President of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
Dr. Kita Curry is a role model for many survivors of suicide, including myself, having lost my older sister to suicide. In my role as the Commissioner of California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, I had an opportunity to learn more about the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and the dedication and compassion of the staff of this fantastic organization.
Over time, I became more involved with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. I even convinced Dr. Kita Curry to join the national advisory board of Iris Alliance Fund, a non-profit organization I founded in 1999, dedicated to preventing suicide among youth and children. Through my relationship with Dr. Kita Curry, I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand their impact on the community and the lives of those they serve.
Dr. Kita Curry, the chief visionary and spokesperson for Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, was responsible for the agency’s clinical services with an annual budget of $55 million, ten sites, 250 volunteers, and 550 staff. Under her leadership, Didi Hirsch’s annual budget tripled, and in October of 2018, Didi Hirsch opened a new permanent home for its Suicide Prevention Center to address growing demand. Dr. Kita Curry is a role model for many families dealing with mental illness, as she has openly talked about her own experience with depression. She taught me that it was essential to make our mission personal.
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services Programs
Didi Hirsch, Mental Health Services, offers a range of programs to support individuals and families dealing with mental health challenges. Their therapy programs provide individual, group, and family counseling to help people cope with various issues, including depression, anxiety, and trauma.
In addition to therapy, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services offers crisis support services, including a 24/7 crisis line, mobile crisis teams, and residential crisis services. These programs are designed to help individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and needing immediate support.
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services is also committed to preventing suicide through its Suicide Prevention Center. They offer a range of services, including suicide prevention training, support groups for survivors of suicide loss, and outreach programs to raise awareness about suicide prevention.
The impact of these programs is clear – they have helped countless individuals and families cope with mental health challenges and have saved countless lives. Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services is truly making a difference in the community, and I’m proud to be a part of their efforts.
Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy
Mental health awareness and advocacy are crucial in reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and promoting access to quality mental health care. In addition, it’s essential to recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health and that seeking help for mental health challenges is a sign of strength, not weakness.
As an advocate for mental health resources, I’ve worked to raise awareness about mental health’s importance and promote access to care for all individuals. By reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, we can encourage more people to seek the help they need and reduce the negative impact of mental health challenges on individuals and communities.
How to Support Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
If you’re interested in supporting Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, you can get involved in several ways. You can donate, volunteer to help their mission, or participate in one of their fundraising events. In addition, on June 1, Dr. Kita Curry will be honored at the Agency’s 80th anniversary, as one of the “Mental Health Heroes.” Mental Health Heroes is an annual fundraiser that began as Erasing the Stigma Leader Awards over several decades ago. In 2004, I was one of the honorees of this prestigious award, Erasing the Stigma Leader Award.
In addition to supporting Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, you can get involved with mental health advocacy and resources in your community in several ways. You can start by talking openly about mental health and encouraging others to seek help when needed. You can also advocate for mental health resources and support policies that promote access to quality mental health care.
Mental health is vital to overall health and well-being, and we must prioritize access to quality mental health care and resources. Didi Hirsch, Mental Health Services, is doing critical work to support individuals and families dealing with mental health challenges, and I encourage you to support their mission.
By working together to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and promote access to care, we can create a world where mental health is treated equally as physical health. Thank you for learning more about Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and mental health advocacy.