The National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse, the nation's first national consumer technical assistance center, has played a major role in the development of the mental health consumer movement. The consumer movement strives for dignity, respect, and opportunity for those with mental illnesses. Consumers--those who receive or have received mental health services--continue to reject the label of "those who cannot help themselves."
People with psychiatric histories face discrimination each day, even though one in five adults in the United States will at some time fight a mental illness. Since the Clearinghouse was founded in 1986 by Joseph Rogers under the auspices of the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, it has led the consumer movement by example, with a largely consumer-run management and staff. We believe that we must share our thoughts and experiences with each other and that knowledge is the key to open new doors.
The Clearinghouse works to foster consumer empowerment through our website, up-to-date news and information announcements, a directory of consumer-driven services, electronic and printed publications, training packages, and individual and onsite consultation. We help consumers organize coalitions, establish self-help groups and other consumer-driven services, advocate for mental health reform, and fight the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illnesses. We also strive to help the movement grow by supporting consumer involvement in planning and evaluating mental health services, and encouraging traditional providers and other societal groups to accept people with psychiatric disabilities as equals and full partners in treatment and in society.
In addition to developing our own publications, we maintain an extensive library of information on topics important to consumer groups interested in self-help and advocacy, including peer counseling, deinstitutionalization, fundraising, involuntary treatment, patient rights, using the media, and many others.
All over the world, mental health consumers are creating self-help groups to provide peer-run and consumer-driven services, which can respond more readily to their members' needs than traditional system providers. These groups work to become powerful advocates on their own behalf, and form coalitions seeking to reform mental health care and fight the stigma and discrimination society attaches to mental illness. Each day, the Clearinghouse provides targeted technical assistance to many of the individual consumers, self-help and advocacy organizations, and consumer coalitions involved in this important work.
Clearinghouse staff have participated in the creation of many local self-help groups through direct consultation, training and technical assistance. We counsel group leaders on how to raise funds, recruit members, develop leadership, publicize activities, develop peer-run services, and resolve internal conflicts. We also arrange on-site visits from our trained consumer staff or experts from our extensive network of consultants.
The Clearinghouse's new Consumer-Driven Services (CDS) Directory is a major national resource enabling individuals and groups to learn more about leading programs, connect with development staff and access consumer-driven organizations in their area. This Directory features listings of programs in all the major areas of services, from Clubhouse and Drop-In Centers to Peer Case Management and many others. Visit the CDS Directory website for more details.
The Clearinghouse sponsors, organizes and/or participates in a number of national events that bring together large numbers of consumers to discuss the issues that affect us and to work together to bring about change. These include many Alternatives conferences, the National Mental Health Association's annual Clifford Beers National Mental Health Conference and the National Summit of Mental Health Consumers and Survivors which the Clearinghouse designed and co-sponsored with the National Mental Health Association (NMHA).
The Clearinghouse supports networking and cooperation among consumer-driven organizations in many ways, including promoting the work of consumer groups, hosting teleconferences, fostering consumer representation on advisory boards, and promoting consumer communications via the Internet and print media.
To be an effective advocate, you must network with other advocates. A great way to get connected is to join the Clearinghouse. We've created a network across the nation of over twenty thousand individuals and groups who are working for change in the mental health system. We hope that you will join us so that we can help each other advocate more effectively.
1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 1207
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (800) 553-4539
or (215) 751-1810
Fax: (215) 636-6312
E-mail: info@mhselfhelp.org
