CONSUMER AFFAIRS BULLETIN
Volume 3, No. 2 Summer 1998

Consumers and Mental Health Associations Came Together

Consumers, Mental Health Association professionals and volunteers came together in June for the "Clifford W. Beers National Mental Health Conference, Consumers and Mental Health Associations Coming Together in ‘98: United in Leadership"--sponsored by the National Mental Health Association and The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. The meeting held outside of Washington, D.C., offered attendees the opportunity to network and draw on each other’s knowledge and experience.

CMHS Deputy Director Thomas Bornemann chaired a CMHS caucus focusing on the future in the mental health arena. He emphasized the importance of strong coalition building and relationship forming. Consumer Affairs Specialist Paolo del Vecchio projected the systems of the future to include certain values, such as hope, respect and dignity, rights protection, choice and the value of diversity.

This meaningful dialogue between CMHS staffers and attendees covered a number of topics such as grants, Internet training, the Surgeon General’s Report, and employment. Many of these topics were also examined during a myriad of workshops and institutes. For more information, contact: The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-help Clearinghouse at 1-800-553-4539 or info@mhselfhelp.org.

Consumer Affairs Bulletin
Volume 3, No. 2, Summer 1998