Nominees sought for Mental Health Mahalo Awards
Mental Health America of Hawai’i will host the sixth annual Mental Health Mahalo Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 11, at the Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, to celebrate community leaders and agencies dedicated to improve the care and treatment of people with mental health problems and working to reduce the stigma of mental illness. Awards will be made in the following categories:
- Outstanding Community Mental Health Leader: For any individual or organization that has enhanced service to the mental health community. Criteria include providing services for a significant length of time, demonstrating cultural competence, initiating groundbreaking new programs, advocating for mental health in the larger community, enhancing the leadership of others, reducing stigma and demonstrating heartfelt passion.
- Outstanding Government Leader: For any government individual or agency having developed or implemented groundbreaking programs or services that meet an unmet community mental health need with quality, effectiveness, efficiency and cultural competence, and/or spearheaded changes in public policy that have had positive impact on those in Hawaii suffering from mental illness.
- Outstanding Business: For a company that provides innovative workplace programs, benefits and services designed to prevent mental illness and support mental wellness of employees and their families, and/or that shows support for persons with mental illness by hiring, training and supporting people who are suffering from serious mental illness.
- Outstanding Adult Mental Health Consumer Advocate: For someone who has experienced mental illness and acts as a strong representative and advocate to improve mental health treatment and services for others. This could mean working as paid staff or volunteer, being a spokesperson and speaking out about his/her illness, educating or mentoring others and/or advocating at the legislature or with state agencies.
- Outstanding Youth Mental Health Consumer Advocate: For a young person, 24 years and under, who has experienced mental illness and who acts as a strong representative and advocate to improve mental health treatment and services. This could mean working as paid staff, intern, or volunteer, being a spokesperson and speaking out about his/her illness, educating or mentoring others and/or advocating at the legislature or with state agencies.
Nominations for these awards are being accepted via email only. Contact Marya Grambs, marya@mentalhealth-hi.org or (808) 521-1846 to obtain a nomination form. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Jan. 14.
