Posted by Melanie Lewis on August 16, 2001 at 14:34:10:
The following is a discussion taken from the NAMHPAC Listserv on involvement of consumers and family members in mental health services planning and implementation. If you would like to join the listserv, please send an email to melanie@namhpac.org.
Planning Council Discussion List
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ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
Some of you attended the NAMHPAC membership meeting in Washington earlier this month and I distributed an article about a local issue. The following appeared as a follow-up in the ongoing struggle to have consumer representation on a mental health task force set up by our county council president.
I would like to see the NAMHPAC Public Policy committee of our organization develop something about local boards and the role of consumers.
Although we pride ourselves on the valuable role consumers play in
decision-making capacities at the state planning level, it is clear that this view does not always trickle down. Best to you all, Laura Van Tosh (Maryland)
__ATTACHED ARTICLE__
August 13, 2001
Montgomery Journal **Letters**
CONSUMERS NEGLECTED ON MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE
In Montgomery County and throughout the United States, we are fortunate to live in a representative democracy. Mental health consumers can speak freely about the treatment we need and have received, even if our rights have been violated. Our views are essential to the development of a consumer-oriented mental health system. I dare say what would happen if we lived in China!
Unfortunately, Esther Kravitz and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill are willing to ignore this basic premise of a free society by leading us to believe that they alone represent people with mental illness on Council President Blair Ewing's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Mental Health ("Task force can ease mental health crisis," letter, Aug. 8).
I am a member of On Our Own of Montgomery County, a consumer-operated program that does represent people with mental illness. On Our Own was not invited to serve on the blue ribbon task force charged with the redesign of the county's public mental health system.
Last year, I led the fight to appoint consumers to the county Mental Health Advisory Committee. Two and one-half years went by before four consumers were finally appointed by the County Council, despite the fact that consumers are required by state statute to serve on this committee.
NAMI did not speak up for consumer representation. Ewing, D-at large, did not make any effort to quickly resolve the situation, even after it was brought to his attention.
NAMI and Ewing's record of ensuring consumer representation - even when it is required by law - speaks for itself.
More than two months ago, the MHAC sent council a hastily prepared letter about establishing a blue ribbon task force. Ewing never consulted the MHAC to discuss the purpose, duties, or membership of the task force. The council resolution was approved on July 31- the day council recessed for the summer - and no public hearings were held. This was not a democratic process.
The task force cannot speak for mental health consumers without
representation. I believe Council President Ewing, the County Council and NAMI are traveling down a slippery slope.
LAURA VAN TOSH , Silver Spring
Editor's note: The author is a member of the county Mental Health
Advisory Committee and a mental health consumer activist.
RESPONSES:
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California
Our State DMH Client and Family Member Task Force is working on a Resource Guide to further meaningful involvement of clients and family members at the local county and state levels. We look forward to using this tool to help bring awareness to the need for, and the value of, this involvement at every level and at every stage along the way. "Nothing about us without us."
We of the Task Force say client and family member in one breath -- like it is hyphenated -- for we believe that the clients, the families of adult consumers, and the families of youth all bring their unique and valuable experience to the table. We look out for one another's interests, and do our best to make sure that the appropriate representation is always there. Karen Hart
Maryland
Would you and others support a policy statement coming from NAMHPAC on this issue? Laura Van Tosh
California
Laura, Thank you for sharing the follow-up article. Even in a state like California where our Director of Mental Health (Commissioner) is very supportive of client/consumer and family involvement at the State level, it doesn't happen in every County, and not in all State arenas. Karen Hart
Tennessee
I certainly would. We in Tennessee have benefited greatly from full consumer participation on our State Planning Council. Two of our 7 Regional Councils are chaired by consumers. Four of the 16 members of the Executive Committee are consumers, two are parents of children with mental health issues and three are family members of adults with mental health issues. Our full council of 65 voting members is likewise balanced. It provides a challenging and fruitful dialogue. Sita Diehl
California
I can only speak for myself, but I certainly think it is a very important issue, even though we didn't specifically identify it at this last Policy Committee meeting as one of our policy priorities. Karen Hart (California)
Maryland
Dear Planners & Advocates:
I'm so pleased to hear support for further discussion and a possible resolution or position statement on the issue of representative democracy.
Like many of you, we have extensive consumer involvement in Maryland but there are gaps which have been created at the state and local level. The mental health field, by and large, have adopted the concepts outlined in the 1985 Mental Health Planning Council Act (PL 99-660). Personally, I will never forget my first reading of this law in 1985 when I was a 24 year-old whippersnapper.
Many of us also buy into the concepts set forth in volumes of writings from the consumer and family movements. But outside our sphere, we need to educate those that are not informed. I see this as our obligation. This would be a wonderful opportunity to integrate consumers and family members in leadership roles outside our field, and in decision-making roles in other areas such as private enterprise, government, and the like.
In October, I will be presenting a proposal to our council to develop an in-State resolution or position statement on consumer and family involvement. I look forward to working with my comrades in Maryland to develop a brief but compelling statement that can help educate other policy makers, state agencies, and the public. I hope NAMHPAC will consider investing resources to do the same. Many thanks. Laura Van Tosh