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Metropolitan Human Services District

MHSD News

MHSD hosts fun-filled Family Day in St. Bernard parish to bring families together and spread awareness

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD) in partnership with St. Bernard parish, will host MHSD Family Day on Saturday, August 12 at 11am. This FREE, outdoor event will take place at the Aycock Barn located at 409 Aycock St., Arabi, LA. MHSD invites families from across the tri-parish area to participate in this event promoting family and community support to citizens in need. “MHSD Family Day gives us the opportunity to bring residents and community partners together in a fun way, to raise awareness about some serious issues related to mental illness, addiction and disabilities that affect our families daily,” says Executive and Medical Director, Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham. She added, “We hope this event strengthens families and encourages residents in need to depend on MHSD to help them or their loved ones get back on track.”

Local artists, including world-renowned violinist Michael Ward, singer Sharon Martin and music group Big Al and the Heavyweights, will provide entertainment. Partnering agencies will be available with resources, including a school supply table just in time for the new school year. The event will feature food from local vendors and plenty of family fun activities, including a rock-climbing wall and face painting.

Metropolitan Human Services District is the local lead agency for mental illness, addictive disorders and intellectual/development disability services. MHSD provides community-based services for all ages in Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes through agency clinics and community partners. State and Federal funding are the primary resources for MHSD. For more information, visit www.mhsdla.org or call 504-568-3130.

Download the MHSD Family Day 2017 Flyer

MHSD and Xavier University Hosts #GetchaMindRight: A Collegiate Mental Health Conversation

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD) will host a panel discussion entitled #GetchaMindRight: A Collegiate Mental Health Conversation in partnership with Xavier University of Louisiana. The event will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 for 6pm at the Xavier University Center Room 205.

As the largest licensed clinical staffed agency in the tri-parish area of Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parish, MHSD will host this event to advocate for mental health awareness in the local community and share how their services can help those in need suffering from mental illness. The panelists will include:

  • Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham, MHSD
  • Dr. Charles Corprew, WYRevolution
  • Dr. Brian Turner, Xavier University
  • Superintendent Michael Harrison, NOPD
  • Ayanna Molina, True Love Movement
  • Pastor Brittany Allen, Destiny Christian Center

“We partnered with Xavier University to expand our reach to the college demographic, but all are welcomed to attend. Mental Illness can affect people of all ages, backgrounds and socio-economic statuses,” says MHSD Executive and Medical Director, Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham. “It is important for the community to understand the significance of signs leading up to a mental illness and how to address changes as they arise. We hope that this conversation will provide some key take-aways for people to use in their daily lives if touched by any aspect of mental illness.”

PDF Press Release

WDSU Channel 6 – MHSD awarded $3 million grant to tackle growing opioid epidemic

More people died of drug overdoses in New Orleans than those who were killed in homicide in 2016, and the majority of the deaths were from opioids.

A $3 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has been awarded to the Metropolitan Human Services District, working in Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes, in response to the growing opioid epidemic.

Read the full article on WDSU Channel 6 – http://www.wdsu.com/article/local-agency-awarded-dollar3-million-grant-to-tackle-growing-opioid-epidemic/9253358

FOX 8 – Local agency gets $3 million grant to reduce opioid deaths

As deaths from opioid drugs outpace homicides in New Orleans, a local agency is in a position to assist more people struggling with addiction.

“This is not something that is just going to go away on a wish or a whim, it requires aggressive interventions by people who understand the disease of addiction and who are capable of working with that very difficult population,” said Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham, executive director and medical director of the Metropolitan Human Services District.

Read the entire article on FOX 8 – http://www.fox8live.com/story/35018000/local-agency-gets-3-million-grant-to-reduce-opioid-deaths

Metropolitan Human Services District Hosts Panel Discussion: “Breaking the Silence on Addiction” – March 23

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Metropolitan Human Services District will host a community panel discussion called “Breaking the Silence on Addiction” on Thursday, March 23, 6pm-8pm. The event will be held at the Peoples Health New Orleans Jazz Market located at 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. WBOK 1230am morning show host, Oliver Thomas, will moderate the discussion, and the event is free and open to the public. The panel will feature MHSD Executive and Medical Director, Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham and other experts in addiction and recovery.

MHSD has partnered with WBOK 1230am to spread awareness to the community about the services they provide to help those suffering from drug and opioid addiction. In 2016, MHSD received a $3 million grant over three years from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to provide medication assisted treatment services for prescription drug and illicit opioid users.

The program will decrease substance use and reduce the local high rates of death currently reported due to the use of this dangerous category of drugs. “This award is a significant indicator that MHSD and partnering agencies have expertise in treatment for those in need of addiction services.” Dr. Dunham says. She added that this panel discussion will help those with addictive disorders and persons who are living day to day with those suffering from addiction.

PDF Press Release

MHSD’s Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham interviewed about Medicaid expansion

“Without expansion we don’t have the availability to provide the services to that new population because we don’t have the dollars to do it,” said Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham, executive director of the tri-parish Metropolitan Human Services District that serves Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. The agency provides among other things, behavioral health services.

Gov. John Bel Edwards urged congressional leaders in a letter Tuesday to protect Medicaid expansion, which benefits more than 400,000 people in Louisiana alone.

Meanwhile, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise told FOX 8 News he disagrees with the Congressional Budget Office’s assessment that millions will automatically lose health coverage afforded through former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

Read the entire article on FOX 8 – http://www.fox8live.com/story/34848019/gov-edwards-urges-congress-to-protect-medicaid-expansion-whip-scalise-rejects-cbo-assessment

If you or someone you know is in a mental health, addiction or developmental / intellectual disability crisis, please call (504) 826-2675.