When there is an underserved group or important community need in the Lowcountry, it frequently takes dedicated organizations and critical funding to tackle those issues.

One such case is the lack of mental health services and resources available for southern Beaufort County’s Hispanic community. The Hispanic population in our community has grown over the past ten-plus years, increasing the number of underserved individuals who may face multiple problems including immigration issues, education disparity, lack of insurance, and language barriers.

Mental Health America Beaufort/Jasper (MHALC), in collaboration with Volunteers in Medicine Hilton Head and Volunteer in Medicine Bluffton Jasper (VIM), has committed to improving mental health services for the local underserved Hispanic community. Thanks to a grant awarded by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, a bilingual human services professional will provide services to Spanish-speaking members of the community who have been diagnosed with, or need treatment for, mental health conditions.

The new program director of La Isla House is Maria Renee Rodriguez Josey, a bilingual human services professional who was born and raised in Guatemala. She will provide counseling services at the VIM Hilton Head Island and Bluffton-Jasper clinics one day per week and group community integration support, for up to eight individuals with a psychiatric disorder, three days per week at MHALC’s office in Bluffton.

The mission of MHALC and its programs is to promote wellness and support to those with mental illness through advocacy, education, research, and service. MHALC is committed to work that promotes mental health, prevents mental disorders, provides continuous improvement, and focuses on enhancing the lives of the persons involved.

If you would like more information about La Isla House and its great mission and cause, please contact MHALC at [email protected] or 843-757-8650.