Mental Health Kokua

Mental Health Kokua (MHK) is a Hawaii nonprofit corporation founded in 1973 that provides comprehensive community-based behavioral health services. Its work supports people recovering from mental illness and dual diagnosis in achieving greater independence. The organisation began with a handful of individuals in one house on Sierra Drive and now operates from 40 locations across four islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Island of Hawaii.

MHK delivers a continuum of services spanning housing services, case management, homeless outreach, psycho-social rehabilitation, psychiatry and counseling. Housing support is designed to help individuals move toward more independent living, while rehabilitation programmes aim at optimum functioning and quality of life. Outreach reaches homeless individuals with behavioural health challenges, and counseling places an emphasis on providing opportunities for individuals to begin again.

The organisation is governed by board members representing each island location and states a core principle that relationships are central to effective mental health care. Services are community-based, intended to reflect local community needs, and are delivered with an emphasis on timely, cost-effective and focused care. The stated focus across programmes is recovery, independence and community integration.

MHK works within behavioural health and mental health care, dual diagnosis treatment, homeless services and housing services. Further information is available at https://mhkhawaii.org/.