Mental Health America of Louisiana
Celebrating Over 90 Years of Mental Health Advocacy & Education
Louisiana’s Mental Health Movement
Since 1915, Louisianans have united together with the same mission to promote mental health and protect mental health consumers. In May 1915, volunteers in Louisiana first attempted to organize a group of citizens, known as the Louisiana Society for Mental Hygiene, which was dedicated to mental health issues. Although this organization made a worthy attempt, it later dissolved.
On Monday, October 30, 1939 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 304 of the Louisiana Building in New Orleans, the Committee on Plan for Mentally Ill began what has evolved into the Mental Health Association in Louisiana (MHAL). Eva Smill, Executive Secretary of Family Service Society of New Orleans, was instrumental in organizing a group “…out of the need for vigilance of our mental health facilities” (Biennial Report of the Chairman 1) in Louisiana. This was during World War II and the Family Service Society was progressively receiving more requests “by families to help in the emotional adjustments of women whose husbands or men friends have been called to the service” (Report of the Executive Secretary on Activities of the Committee 6). By February 1940, the Citizens’ Committee on Care of the Mentally Ill in New Orleans was formed.
This committee began working immediately to improve conditions for the mentally ill. The committee was influential in inviting the United States Public Health Service to take a survey of the New Orleans City Hospital for Mental Diseases. After the survey’s results were finalized, the committee publicized and distributed the results in an effort to raise awareness of the inhumane conditions occurring at the hospital. This led to the first comprehensive evaluation of all Louisiana state mental institutions and the need for the Committee to become a permanent organization.
In 1942, the Citizens’ Committee on the Care of the Mentally Ill changed names and became known as the Louisiana Committee for Mental Health. Felix M. Gentile was appointed Executive Secretary and began as the organization’s first paid employee on January 20, 1942, with Joseph M. Jones as the chairman of the committee. The organization incorporated on October 29, 1942 as Louisiana Society for Mental Health. The Louisiana Society for Mental Health’s first publication, “The Effects of the War upon the Family and Its Members,” was written by Felix Gentile and issued in October 1942. The first issued pamphlet was titled “Guarding Mental Health.” Gentile left his position as Executive Secretary because he was drafted into the military during WWII, and in 1944 Mrs. Ormonde B. Bayon took the position as interim Executive Secretary until a new Executive Director was found.
National Affiliation
In 1908, Clifford Beers, a mental health consumer, founded the Connecticut Society for Mental Hygiene that expanded into the National Committee for Mental Hygiene by 1909. Louisiana Society for Mental Health (now MHAL) was one of twenty-seven state societies to be affiliated with the National Committee for Mental Hygiene. The National Committee for Mental Hygiene, National Mental Health Foundation, and Psychiatric Foundation merged to form the National Association of Mental Health (NAMH) on September 13, 1950. The Louisiana Association of Mental Health (now MHAL) charted as a division of NAMH on June 21, 1958. Then in 1979, NAMH became the National Mental Health Association (NMHA). MHAL officially became a chartered affiliate of NMHA on October 1, 1992. NMHA and its affiliates continue to implement the same goals set in the early 1900s: “to improve attitudes toward mental illness and the mentally ill, to improve services for the mentally ill, and to work for the prevention of mental illness and promote mental health.” MHAL is one of over 340 mental health association affiliates of NMHA.
Mental Health Newsletters
This mental health organization has produced newsletters since February 1944. The Louisiana Society for Mental Health produced the first newsletter, Mental Health News in February 1944, with Felix Gentile as the editor. The Mental Health Bulletin began fall of 1968 until 1969. Beginning in 1970, LAMH TARGET (later MHAL TARGET) was published four times a year. Its purpose was to educate the public of mental health problems in the state of Louisiana. The Mental Health Bulletin began again in February 1983 until 1987. MHAL Mental Health Newsline was the next newsletter produced in Spring 1988. Frontpage is MHAL’s current quarterly newsletter.
Loyd W. Rowland, Ph.D.
Loyd W. Rowland, Ph.D. (1902-1981) became the Executive Director in September 1945 when the organization was known as Louisiana Association for Mental Health (LAMH). Dr. Rowland exerted a tremendous amount of work while he was with this organization. He graduated from Baylor University in Psychology and Philosophy, received his masters from University of Texas, and later received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Chicago. He married Lela Pyle, who was instrumental throughout his career, and they had two sons Roger Dean and Howard Douglas. Dr. Rowland remained the Executive Director for nineteen years and then took a less demanding position with the Association as Director of Education and Research.
Pierre the Pelican
Planning for Pierre the Pelican began in 1945 by Loyd Rowland, Ph.D. with help from his wife. Dr. Rowland explained that the idea for Pierre came, “…when Mrs. Rowland and I were in Chicago and our son was born. Here came a nurse with the Bundesun Series, pamphlets on physical care for the child like getting shots. I think it’s a fine series but it had little or nothing about the psychological development of the child. There wasn’t much in the field at the time. Gradually, there was increasing interest and research done.” The Pierre the Pelican program started in 1947 as a series of twelve letters sent to first time parents over the first year of their child’s life. In 1957, the series developed into twenty-eight letters sent to first time parents over a six year period. Twelve letters were sent the first year, six the second, three the third and fourth, and two the fifth and sixth. Pierre the Pelican was approved by the American Medical Association (Council on Mental Health) and Dr. Benjamin Spock, famous pediatrician and author, was one of Pierre’s critic readers.
This series was and is still sent (in some states) to first time parents to teach them good habits of child rearing that will be retained and will carry over to other children they may have in the future. Parents are offered friendly advice with special attention to mental health from a pelican (Louisiana’s official state bird) named Pierre, along with words of wisdom from his wife, Pierrette. Each letter is set up on a four page layout with illustrations throughout by Betty Cobb. The letters were written in a way to be easily understood on various reading levels. Dr. Rowland stated in a personal and professional history in 1961 that, “Our purpose [for Pierre] is to help bring up a generation of psychologically robust children so that they can withstand the onslaughts of mental illness and achieve a maximum of the better aspects of living.”
Dr. Rowland recommended the distribution of Pierre be done through partnerships with a state government agency in conjunction with a mental health association (as Louisiana did) or a nonprofit organization. When state agencies are involved, the names and addresses of first time parents can be obtained from birth records. Pierre was adopted and used in over twenty states across the United States and four other countries. Approximately eight states, including Louisiana, adopted the program statewide, along with several counties and mental health associations across the country. States that have used Pierre throughout the years include Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. In Texas, a pilot program began called Pierre the Texas Pelican. Pierre’s appearance was slightly modified to include a cowboy hat, a bandana, and a vest. Much to Dr. Rowland’s dismay, the program was never adopted statewide. Pierre was discovered in Florida by a German educator who brought the series back to West Berlin. Pierre was translated into Spanish (Pedro, el Pelícano), Italian, German (Peter Pelikan) for use in West Berlin, and Hungarian for use in Subotica (Yugoslavia). Pierre messages were also broadcasted over the radio in Germany and printed consecutively in a Hungarian magazine titled Egeszeg, meaning health.
Dr. and Mrs. Rowland were invited to travel to Germany in 1964 to speak on behalf of the Pierre the Pelican program that was used there. The Rowland’s son, Howard Douglas, was in the United States Army and stationed in Germany at the time. Howard served as an interpreter during his father’s public speeches in Germany.
In 1969, Prenatal Pierre the Pelican was developed for expectant mothers and was sent (in Louisiana) upon request of physicians. Topics focus on issues such as fathers, body changes, preparing for the baby, and after baby blues. The series consists of nine letters; the first letter was received the second month of the woman’s pregnancy and the last was received two weeks after the baby was expected to arrive.
After Dr. Rowland’s retirement as the Executive Director, the copyrights of Pierre the Pelican and the Family Publications Center were transferred from (LAMH) to Dr. Rowland. This transfer was used to supplement his minimal retirement income of $150 a month and allowed him to continue to update his works. Pierre the Pelican, Retirement Series for Men, and Retirement Series for Women were produced by the Family Publications Center. After Dr. Rowland’s death, his son Roger Dean Rowland took over the Family Publications Center, which is currently operated in Raphine, Virginia. In 2002, Roger’s son, Steven Rowland, created a digital version of the Pierre series for computer use, making him the third generation of Rowlands to contribute to Pierre.
Although the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals last ordered Pierre in 2000, the letters are still distributed in other states by mental health associations. In 2004, approximately twelve mental health associations distributed Pierre the Pelican.
Milestones to Marriage
In 1951, Dr. Rowland, along with three other individuals, created another series titled Milestones to Marriage which was later renamed, Milestones to Maturity. This series of nine letters was addressed to high school seniors, with the last letter being received around graduation. These letters were used by Louisiana as well as other states. The topics in the series include personality, dating, love, and husband and wife relationships and responsibilities. The writers intended students to receive these letters at the beginning of the week, so discussion groups could be held the weekend immediately following. It was also hoped that high schools would see a need for classes to be developed on marriage and family life.
Police Manuals & Films
In 1954, Dr. Rowland and Robert A. Mathews, M.D. co-authored A Manual for the Police Officer: How to Recognize and Handle Abnormal People. In the introduction, Dr. Rowland states that their “purpose in writing it can be stated simply: to help police officers understand that abnormal or mentally ill people are sick people.” The manual discusses recognizing and handling mentally ill people, mental conditions encountered by police officers, abnormal group behavior, and the personal problems of police officers. The latest revision of this manual was published in 1989 by NMHA and renamed A Manual for Law Enforcement: Aiding People in Conflict. A series of four thirty minute films were produced for the Louisiana Association for Mental Health and created for police officers to go along with this manual. The films were used in police departments throughout the United States and Canada. Dr. Rowland designed discussion guides to accompany these films titled Booked for Safekeeping, The Cry for Help, The Mask, and Under Pressure. The production of the films and preparation of the discussion guides were made possible by the National Institute of Mental Heath, the National Institute of Health, the United States Public Heath Service, and the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
Booked for Safekeeping was designed to help police officers understand how to respond to situations involving people with mental illnesses. The Cry for Help taught police officers how to interact with suicidal individuals. The Mask was designed to make police officers aware that alcohol can disguise or mask serious physical and mental illnesses. Under Pressure was targeted toward police officers because it discusses personal and emotional problems related to being a police officer.
I’ll See You after School
I’ll See you after School is a one-act play written by Loyd Rowland, Ph.D. in 1959. The play revolves around parent-teacher conferences between five different parents whose children have the same teacher. The play demonstrates how open communication between parents and teachers is beneficial both in the home and classroom environment.
Retirement Series
Retirement Series for Men and Retirement Series for Women, by Loyd Rowland, Ph.D. with help from his wife, Lela Pyle Rowland, are both series of twelve letters for men and women who are approaching retirement to prepare them for changes that come with being retired. The readers of this series were encouraged to save the pamphlets so they could be reread.
Retirement Series for Men was created in 1966, two years after Dr. Rowland retired as Executive Director from the LAMH. Some topics covered include suggestions of activities to do and not to do, housing, finances, religion, friends, health, sex, memory, and retirement from a wife’s perspective. Mrs. Rowland wrote a letter in the series to give men insight on how most wives perceive their husbands’ retirement. The series was revised in 1978 and again in 1986 by Roger Rowland (Dr. Rowland’s son).
Retirement Series for Women was created in 1970. In the first issue, Dr. Rowland credits his wife’s contribution to the series by stating that the authors of the series were a husband and wife team. Topics in this series focus on many of the same issues as the Retirement Series for Men. Additional topics include husband-wife relationships, single and married women, mental health, and grandchildren.
Lela Rowland Prevention Award
Lela Pyle Rowland was Dr. Rowland’s wife. She was a graduate of the University of Kansas, who majored in Journalism. She was not only Dr. Rowland’s wife, but his co-worker and was instrumental in his contributions in the field of mental health. “To focus attention on prevention by demonstrating the existence of credible programs and recognizing and rewarding those who develop effective programs in this area of concern” (Lela Rowland Prevention Award), the Lela Rowland Prevention Award was established by the National Mental Health Association’s Board of Directors and funded by Dr. Rowland on June 6, 1978 in her honor. The award has been given annually since 1980 at the National Mental Health Association’s Clifford Beers Conference “to an outstanding program for the prevention of mental-emotional disabilities or the promotion of mental health” (Lela Rowland Prevention Award). The award shifted its focus in 2001 to honor “a researcher and/or community institution who either independently or in partnership with one another widely replicate an evidence-based prevention program in multiple settings, or implement multiple prevention programs in one setting” (NMHA 2005 Awards).
George L. Saporito
George L. Saporito succeeded Loyd Rowland, Ph.D. and became the next Executive Director. He started working with the organization in 1957 and became the Executive Director in 1965 until 1968.
Mabel B. Palmer
Mabel Palmer (March 16, 1920) was appointed the Executive Director for Louisiana Association for Mental Health from 1968 until June 30, 1984. Palmer was the Director of Special Services and the Associate Director with LAMH for nine years prior to being named the Executive Director. She received a Master’s degree in Social Work from Tulane University. Several programs were created and implemented under Palmer’s leadership, such as Magnolia Clubs, the first halfway house in the state (McKenney House), a 24 hour Crisis Line, a support group Coping with Suicide, and educational programs such as Friends Can Be Good Medicine and Bell Ringer Letters. In her resignation letter to Weyman Oden, Jr., she expressed, “…the excitement and fulfillment in my work have always far outweighed the frustration and fatigue of work...”
Magnolia Clubs
Magnolia Clubs, organized by Palmer, were social rehabilitation clubs for individuals who were discharged from facilities after receiving treatment for mental illnesses. The clubs were to assist these individuals as they were returning to social activities and help them deal with problems of socialization. In 1960, Palmer wrote a developmental guide for creating social clubs like the Magnolia Clubs, “The Social Club, A Bridge from Mental Hospital to the Community,” which was distributed by NMHA. The booklet discusses beginning the clubs, structuring of the clubs, obtaining members, meetings and activities, and evaluating the clubs.
McKenney House (1963)
McKenney House was Louisiana’s first halfway house for men recovering from mental illnesses. The halfway house was LAMH’s demonstration project funded through a three year grant from the Louisiana Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Coryelle McKenney, a businessman recruited by Dr. Rowland, became a very active volunteer. Naming the halfway house after McKenney, “was a way of honoring him” (Palmer). Once the three years concluded, McKenney House was turned over to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Bell Ringer Letters
In 1968, a series of six informal letters called the Bell Ringer Letters, written by Palmer, were sent to patients who were discharged from mental hospitals throughout Louisiana. Letters were to be mailed to the patients the day they were discharged from the hospital and then once a week for the next five weeks. The purpose of the series was to give support to the discharged individuals during their transition. The letters focus on helping the individuals adjust to returning home, scheduling regular doctor appointments, making friends, and finding a job. Much to the organization’s dismay, the letters did not receive the attention that was desired and “never got off the ground” (Palmer).
Orange Day
April 26, 1988 while Richard E. Hitt was Executive Director (1984-1989), MHAL held its first Orange Day at the State Capitol Rotunda. The day was full of activities that morning, a public board meeting at a local hotel that afternoon, and a legislative reception to meet legislators that night. Today, Orange Day is an annual event held during the legislative session where hundreds of mental health consumers, family members of consumers, and advocates rally in orange at the Pentagon Barracks and State Capitol to meet legislators and discuss mental health issues.
Mental Health Reform Coalition
In 1996, MHAL established the Mental Health Reform Coalition (MHRC) while Shannon Robshaw was MHAL’s Executive Director (1994-2001). The coalition members consist of an assembly of statewide non-profit organizations. This coalition was instrumental in early juvenile justice reform, including the lawsuits against the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections on behalf of incarcerated children with mental illnesses. The coalition was also successful in getting Louisiana’s 1999 Parity Law passed during an annual Orange Day rally. The MHRC works as an advocacy group in Louisiana to help combat stigma around mental health by holding mental health leadership advocacy trainings that give direction to individuals interested in becoming advocates. These workshops are intended for mental health consumers, family and friends of consumers, and mental health supporters to provide and strengthen leadership skills needed to influence policymakers.
Yakima Black
Yakima Black began working for MHAL in 1999 as a Program
Coordinator and became the Executive Director in 2001. She graduated from
Southern University in Baton Rouge with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation
Services, as well as a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with a
specialization in vocational evaluation and work adjustment. Black is also a
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). As the Executive Director her efforts
are geared toward making positive changes in the community through advocacy,
leadership, public education, and the establishment of coalitions and
partnerships.
Louisiana H.I.R.E.
In 2001, Black implemented Louisiana H.I.R.E. (Helping Individuals Reach Employment) a supported employment program designed for individuals with severe chronic mental health issues. The program is modeled after an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model and was based on twenty years of research out of Dartmouth, New Hampshire. This evidence based program provides vocational services using a treatment team of mental health and rehabilitation professionals who work to assist consumers in obtaining and maintaining employment. Louisiana H.I.R.E.’s staff provides consumers with 24 hour on and off the job support and assistance as needed. Currently, Louisiana H.I.R.E. operates in two locations, the Baton Rouge Margaret Dumas Mental Health Center and Baton Rouge Mental Health Center. To qualify for this program, individuals must be at least eighteen years old, receive treatment at either mental health center, take all prescribed medications, and be prepared to work.
LaFête
Louisiana Family Evaluation Team (LaFête) is a program in which parents whose children receive services from mental health facilities, conduct surveys that evaluate the quality of services that are received. The program was issued by Governor Murphy J. ‘Mike’ Foster and began in 1999 to survey all state mental health facilities. LaFête, Cajun French for The Celebration/The Feast, is the child and youth satisfaction surveys program carried out by MHAL and C’est Bon is the adult equivalent program carried out by Louisiana’s Office of Mental Health (OMH). MHAL is under contract with OMH to operate the LaFête program.
The mission of the Louisiana Family Evaluation Team is to empower families to take responsibility for and provide leadership in improving the services they receive, to provide paid employment for parent/caregivers, and the feeling of self worth that comes from a sense of accomplishment from a job well done.
MHAL temporarily hires the surveyors (parents) who conduct the satisfaction surveys. Each child and parent evaluation interview is held individually with the surveyor at mental health facilities. If the child cooperates with the surveyor, the interview takes less than ten minutes. The survey asks open ended questions about what the children have learned about themselves at the facility and what they would change about the help they are receiving. It also asks them yes or no questions inquiring if they like the help they are receiving, if they are getting along better with their families, and if they think their counselors care about them. The parent evaluation takes approximately fifteen minutes. The survey asks open ended questions about comments, complaints, concerns, changes, and improvements. Parents are also asked to grade several items including staff respect, location, services, and if they could go anywhere would they continue going to the same clinic. Members of the staff at the facilities are also asked to complete a written questionnaire in which their names are withheld. Some of the questions include what services at the clinic are most and least effective and what would help them work more effectively.
Once the evaluations are complete, a report is compiled and sent to the state and the individual clinics. Anyone can have access to these reports and they are posted in waiting areas and can be provided upon request. Clinics can also obtain report cards of other clinics. These consumer surveys have produced positive outcomes. Waiting areas have become more comfortable, social workers have become more personable and compassionate, and facilities have become more flexible by extending their hours of operation.
Louisiana Mental Health Planning Council (LMHPC)
Black was elected the chairperson of the Louisiana Mental Health Planning Council (LMHPC) in November 2003. LMHPC monitors the federal mental health block grant monies in Louisiana. The Planning Council is composed of statewide organizations, individuals, and mental health consumers and meets quarterly to discuss many topics including mental health program development, monitoring, and evaluation of the mental health system, the state mental health plan, the budget, and advocacy issues.
Co-occurring State Infrastructure Grant (Co-sig)
Louisiana’s OMH was one of ten states to be awarded the Co-occurring State Infrastructure Grant (Co-sig). The state will be integrating OMH and the Office of Addictive Disorders so they can work as a collaborative effort, treating people with mental and addictive disorders. MHAL has a contract with OMH to complete a statewide social marketing campaign around stigma and co-occurring disorders. This was the first time OMH had ever done a public education campaign. In March 2005, a television commercial was created to educate the public in Louisiana that co-occurring disorders exist and that help can be received. The actor in the commercial was, Ronald Coats, MHAL’s Research and Policy Assistant. The commercial directed people who wanted more information to contact the Louisiana Integrated Treatment Services by a toll free number that was then answered by the MHAL staff.
MHAL Today
MHAL is currently a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and this organization like many others, has had its ups and downs. Unfortunately, this document does not contain every piece of information from MHAL’s history, but serves only as an overview. The important thing to remember is that for the past ninety years (1915-2005) people in Louisiana have united for the purpose of promoting mental health, preventing mental illness, and protecting the rights of mental health consumers.
Quick Dates
PAST EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
1942-1944 Felix M. Gentile (Executive Secretary)
1944-1945 Mrs. Ormonde B. Bayon (Interim Executive Secretary)
1945-1964 Loyd Rowland, Ph.D.
1965-1968 George L. Saporito
1968-1984 Mabel Palmer
1984-1989 Richard E. Hitt
1990-1993 Peggy Brewer (Part-time Volunteer Executive Director)
1993-1994 Brad Smith
1994-2001 Shannon Robshaw
2001- now Yakima Black
PROGRESSION OF NAMES
- 1915 - Louisiana Society for Mental Hygiene
- 1939 – Committee on Plan for Mentally Ill
- 1940 - Citizens’ Committee on Care of the Mentally Ill in New Orleans
- 1942 - Louisiana Committee for Mental Health
- 1942 - Louisiana Society for Mental Health (LSMH)
- 1945 - Louisiana Association for Mental Health (LAMH)
- 19 - Mental Health Association in Louisiana (MHAL)
- 2006 - Mental Health America of Louisiana (MHAL)
MENTAL HEALTH NEWSLETTERS
- Mental Health News (LSMH) – February 1944
- Mental Health Bulletin – Fall 1968-1987
- LAMH TARGET
- MHAL Mental Health Newsline – Spring 1988
- Frontpage