Ms. Ross: A person must be 13 years of age or older. I provide services to teens and adults. I do an intake assessment session.

I do not diagnose but I ascertain what the needs of the person, I provide information on how a participant can get a diagnosis. I work with the African-American Mental Health Providers and other mental health providers such as Western Sierra Psychiatric Associates. Essentially, we believe that knowledge is power. Participants receive homework assignments because active participation involves them in their recovery which is good for their mental health. We educate their families as well as a case-by-case basis. Interviewer: How many families are being assisted by your agency at this time? Ms. Ross: We have educated over 2,000 people directly through our edu-tainment programs. In this way we reach the community on a broad scale to increase awareness of mental illness in the community to remove the resistance many have against it as a health problem.

In our community, it is my experience that our people generally will go to their preacher first when a mental health issue arises before presenting to a doctor or other specialist with special training to deal with it. As I said, I believe in a holistic approach to treating mental illness, so while going to the preacher is fine, it is finnier if the person sees a mental health person, too. If a person is considering suicide, church prayer is great, but a global outreach, medication, one-on-one, other professional help puts the person in the best position to be helped. When others become involved they will become educated on how to identify possible mental health symptoms. AHMI can help as the person gets spiritual help from the pastor, church and congregation. AHMI will help with the mental health issue and organize a holistic approach to education and healing. This approach has been utilized in the midst of the AIDs crisis in the 80s 2000s so we can use it in the mental health field.

Interviewer: Your website mentions your interaction with teens. Knowledge is power. Applied knowledge is power in How do you specifically engage the teen population? action. The more we help our people who are mentally Ms. Ross: We work with about 15 teens and have formed a 6 challenged (and not just regard some behaviors as or 7 member board. We also have teen volunteers and they just weird or Dianne being Dianne) the healthier and come up with unique ways of reaching other teens. We receive higher functioning our community will be. Then, people referrals from teens. The board has its own mission statement with mental illnesses will not just be on SSI for the rest with is You Are Not Alone. They participate in community outof their lives, unproductive, just statistics, numbers, and reach and fundraisers such as car washes. They also have not just uncounted folks with mental disorders. They peer-to-peer meetings where they are paired up with other will be helping feed the homeless and do other benefiteens, not as counselors, but as mutual sharing partners who cial works. have experienced similar issues so they discuss issues like depression, school challenges, family stress, dating and so We are all in this together. We believe a holistic apforth. They are encouraged to do their homework, develop proach is best for addressing our issue that negatively positive goals, attend social events together and [touch base affects people mental illness in a holistic way: emowith me if an issue is of seriousness concern to them]. We cur- tionally, spiritually, physically, financially and mentally. rently have teens who attend three major high schools in Sac- Our goal is for people to live healthy, holistic lives so ramento and Elk Grove, Kennedy High, Sacramento High, and their whole lives reflect good health. Accordingly, we Valley High. All of their activities are overseen by adults. We address mental health challenges and learning disabiliare really proud of what our teens are doing. ties with all the holistic tools we have available. Interviewer: What would you like the community to know most about AHMI? Ms. Ross: Number 1, that we are here to help. We would like for more business and community professionals to get involved in helping us get the word out. [Mental health issues are real health matters like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer is and it is time we address them openly and without shame.] Dianne Ross, RN Ms. Dianne Ross, RN, is the founder and CEO of AHMI. While she teaches and inspires others on how to successfully manage their mental illnesses, Ms. Ross

We would like for more community involvement to become part of our mission to educate, enlighten, enrich, and inform the general population. We serve everyone however, my life and also leads by example as she also positively manages experience as an African-American and my similar life experi- her own mental illness. ence with other African-Americans makes me uniquely qualified Please visit www.ahmi4u.org for more information on to work with similarly situated persons. the Araven Holistic Mind Institute.

Interview was conducted by Ann Adams for the Empowerment Magazine.

Anne is currently working part time as a volunteer receptionist at the Wellness and Recover Center on Marconi Avenue. She has served as a board member and residential leader for the Sacramento Mutual Housing Association. She has worked for 15 years in Law Enforcement agencies at the state and county levels and also has 4 years of working with children with learning disabilities.