Mental Health and Aging Network
MHAN - An ASA Constituent Group

About MHAN

If one of your concerns is the mental health of older adults, where do you turn when you want to:

• Know more about the effectiveness of programs and services?
• Develop new clinical or administrative skills?
• Contribute to efforts to promote the mental well-being of elders?

The Mental Health and Aging Network (MHAN) can help you with your professional development. Members of MHAN are dedicated to improving supportive interventions for older adults with mental health problems and for their caregivers. To achieve this goal, MHAN aims to:

• Create a cadre of professionals with expertise in geriatric mental health issues.
• Assure that service professionals are "dementia capable."
• Improve systems of care for older adults with mental health problems or dementia.
• Provide a voice for these underserved or inappropriately served populations.
• Advocate services and programs that enhance positive mental health for older adults.

MHAN members share information about the mental health of older adults, and those whose work touches issues in:

• Elder abuse
• Substance abuse
• Case management
• Cross-cultural counseling
• Clinical counseling
• Therapies for mental wellness
• Psychopharmacy
• Alzheimer's and related disorders
• Mental health advocacy and policy development
• Applied research

The Benefits of MHAN

• Publications
  MHAN members receive a newsletter, Dimensions -- a comprehensive, ongoing source of information about resources, program models, best practices, research and policy developments, and more.
• Web Resources
  The MHAN home page offers an annotated guide to Web resources dealing with mental health and aging, as well as an extensive list of recommended books, videos and other resources. A members-only section offers a searchable online directory of MHAN members and their interests to facilitate professional collaboration, plus a selection of articles from Dimensions.
• Conferences
  At the ASA-NCOA Joint Conference each spring, MHAN offers a full track of mental health-related sessions, as well as a peer group meeting, a reception, and informal opportunities for networking and socializing. In addition, MHAN organizes intensives on mental health and aging issues during ASA's Summer Series on Aging and as part of ASA's Web seminars.
• Networking
  In addition to contact with other MHAN members, MHAN fosters links among practitioners, educators, researchers, policymakers, service providers, administrators, business people, and other interested individuals and groups. In addition, MHAN works with other mental health organizations and publications to encourage greater understanding about the mental health needs of older adults.

The American Society on Aging

MHAN is a constituent group of the American Society on Aging (ASA), the largest professional membership association in the field of aging in the United States. ASA's more than 6,000 members comprise a national multidisciplinary community of those who work with older adults.

MHAN membership is available at no extra charge exclusively to ASA members. Members of MHAN have access to a wealth of resources in the field of aging through ASA's publications and programs.

ASA Individual Membership Benefits

As an individual member of ASA, you receive the following benefits:

• Publications
  Generations, ASA's quarterly journal, is one of the most highly respected journals in the field of aging. Each issue provides a diversity of perspectives on a single topical area, written by leading researchers, policymakers, clinicians and practitioners.
  
  Aging Today, ASA's bimonthly newspaper, covers the latest trends and developments in aging, including updates on new products and services, innovative programs and the latest research.
  
  ASA Connection, ASA's monthly e-newsletter, provides news briefs on events in aging, research and policy developments, innovative practices, member news and more.
• Member Discounts
  Save up to 40 percent on ASA conferences and training and 15 percent on books, videos and other products from the ASA store.
• Continuing Education and Staff Development
  CEUs are available for most of our conferences and training. You also can earn a staff development certificate of completion at the ASA-NCOA Joint Conference and at ASA's Autumn Series on Aging.
• Development and expansion of professional and personal contacts
• Unique opportunities to share ideas, information, programs and perspectives
• Access to speakers and consultants
• Searchable online ASA membership directory

ASA Organizational Membership Benefits

As an organizational member of ASA, your organization receives full benefits for three designated individuals from your staff, plus the following:

• The opportunity to add an unlimited number of additional individuals from your organization for only $95 each (a savings of 30 percent off the regular rate).
• Discounts of up to 35 percent on conference registration fees for an unlimited number of people from your organization.
• Free distribution of our monthly e-newsletter, ASA Connection, to your entire staff.
• Free want ads posted on the ASA job board.

Join ASA and MHAN

Start receiving the benefits of membership today! Click here to join ASA and MHAN.