MHA serves Cabarrus and Mecklenburg County residents by offering free counseling for those who can't afford it; providing family support services to parents of children with behavioral, emotional or mental health needs; peer support for adults living with chronic mental illnesses; and mental health education and preventative trainings to the broader community. MHA’s programs bring together mental health consumers, parents, advocates and service providers to address systemic issues impacting mental health. Much of MHA’s work is guided by its Before Stage 4 (B4Stage4) philosophy – that mental health conditions should be treated long before they reach the most critical points in the disease process. When thinking about cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, individuals don’t wait years to treat them. At MHA, we strongly believe mental health conditions should be treated early in order to improve quality of life for those living with a mental health diagnosis.