Philly mental health organization has a new name

The Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania has a new name, which it says better reflects what it does.

The organization, which provided services to 7,000 people with behavioral health problems last year, is now Mental Health Partnerships, said its president and CEO, Michael Brody.

Brody said many were confused by the word association because his nonprofit organization, founded in 1951, never had dues-paying members. Most of its funding comes from government sources.  It's a service provider, an advocacy organization, and a community education provider. In addition to Southeastern Pennsylvania, its service area includes Delaware and it's hoping to expand into New Jersey.

Many of Mental Health Partnerships' employees have behavioral health problems or have family members who do.  It places a strong emphasis on peer support and on the recovery movement for people with serious mental illnesses. The organization has long worked with regional governments, but hopes to partner with health insurers to "try to support people from both a physical health and a behavioral health perspective, to be more holistic with people," Brody said.