Title
Finding and Using Our Voice: How Consumer/Survivor Advocacy is Transforming Mental Health Care
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Psychiatry
Date
2010
Document Type
Book Chapter
Medical Subject Headings
Mental Health; Rehabilitation; Self-Help Groups; Health Care Coalitions; Health Policy
Disciplines
Health Services Research | Mental and Social Health | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry and Psychology
Abstract
In the past 30 years, the consumer/survivor movement has been developing a consensus national advocacy voice. This chapter reviews three important components in the development of this strong and unified national consumer/ survivor Voice: (a) A consensus by the movement that recovery, wellness, and complete community integration are attainable goals for persons labeled with mental illness in contrast to the traditional negative prognosis of maintenance during a life-long disability; (b) Training programs in advocacy designed and carried out by consumer/survivors, such as Finding Our Voice; (c) Building the National Coalition of Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Organizations, which amplifies the voice of consumer/survivors at the state and federal level.
Comments
Citation: Fisher, D.B., and L. Spiro. 2010. Finding and using our voice. In Mental Health Self-Help. ed. Louis Brown, Scott Wituk. New York: Springer Publishing, p. 213-233.
A partial preview of this chapter is available via Google Books.
At the time of publication, Daniel Fisher was not yet affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.