Education/Community Outreach
MHASC conducts an active public education campaign through public appearances, media contacts, statewide speaking engagements, targeted workshops, legislative education days, special mailings, newsletters and community collaborations. Priorities include expanded program development, more public education workshops and educational conferences. MHASC also participates in national and state depression screening days.
MHASC has also facilitated an Olmstead Implementation Training Workshop in conjunction with the NMHA as part of the Governor's Task Force for Home and Community-Based Services.
Suicide PreventionMHASC is part of the suicide prevention network in South Carolina and hosts suicide prevention trainings, as well as Survivor of Suicide groups. Please contact Donna Soileau at dsoileau@mha-sc.org for more information or to schedule a QPR Suicide Prevention training for your school, office, or community organization.
I.C. HOPE® “Don’t Duck Mental Health® program is a public awareness and education campaign that dispels the negative perceptions and images associated with mental illness and mental health issues. I.C. HOPE® is the Ambassador for Mental Health and Wellness. He is a symbol that is appealing to all ages and ethnic groups while bridging the socioeconomic divides of our community. This friendly duck bearing a bandage on his head symbolizing mental illness is real and treatable and a life preserver around his neck symbolizing every life is worth saving, carries the “Don’t Duck Mental Health®” message to the community. The engaging character of I.C. HOPE® evokes positive emotional responses from those who encounter him. He generates questions about the bandage he wears on his head and life preserver worn around his neck which opens the door to talking about mental illnesses as real and treatable. Please contact Anita Baker at atbaker@mha-sc.org for more information or to schedule a Don't Duck Mental Health training for your school.