Consumer Involvement in Mental Health Services and Support
The concept of consumer involvement in mental health services stems from the basic value of empowerment for people with mental health problems. Consumer involvement necessitates confidence in, and understanding of, the capability of people with mental health problems to make intelligent and informed decisions about their treatment and their lives. Consumers and providers of mental health services are coming to see that consumer involvement in the decisions relevant to the course of their lives is an integral component of effective and long-term recovery from mental health problems.
Organizations worldwide are demonstrating that people with mental health problems can and should be actively involved in their own treatment, recovery, and life decisions. Many service providers are moving towards a person-centered model that encourages partnership between consumer, service provider, and other relevant parties (family, carers). At the same time, numerous support and advocacy programs around the world are 100% organized and operated by consumers/survivors of mental health services. Empowerment, self-help, peer advocacy, and community education are often at the forefront of such programs. In addition, there are many consumer-led organizations which aim to ensure that mental health services actively involve them.
In this section of the website you will find information both on organizations that are 100% operated by consumers/survivors and also on organizations which are not fully consumer/survivor operated but which utilize effective consumer involvement practices. There are links to a variety of publications and reports on the concept and practice of consumer involvement as well as a list of other useful links.