The role of the State Council on Mental Health is to advise, monitor, review and evaluate the provision of mental health services in the state. The Council is an active advocate that provides a voice for children, youth, adults, and their families on behavioral health issues. Its membership is comprised of twenty-one dedicated volunteers representing consumers, family members, community members and state employees who give their time, energy, expertise and experience to improve and advocate for a system of care that provides quality mental health service to the people of Hawaii.
The Council’s directives include:
- Serving as an advocate for adults diagnosed with a severe mental illness, for children and youth diagnosed with serious emotional disturbance;
- Advising the state mental health authority on issues of concern, policies and programs;
- Providing guidance to the mental health authority in the development and implementation of the state mental health systems;
- Monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the allocation and adequacy of mental health services within the state.