Policy and Advocacy

Advocacy Unlimited, Inc.
Information and resources for persons with mental health disabilities. Also an educational program for mental health advocacy skills.
http://www.mindlink.org/

Coalition for Persons Disabled by Mental Illness
North Carolina coalition of mental health professionals, consumers, families and advocates organized to pursue lobbying and mental health reform initiatives.
http://www.cpdmi.org

Consumer Organization and Networking Technical Assistance Center
Resource center for consumers/survivors/ex-patients and consumer-run organizations across the United States, promoting self-help, recovery and empowerment.
http://www.contac.org

East Suffolk Advocacy Networks
ESAN is an independent, user managed organization committed to the empowerment of mental health service users. Lists the office locations, news and upcoming events.
http://www.esan.org.uk

Empowerment for Healthy Minds
Consumer-run mental health advocacy organization based in Southwestern Virginia. Empowerment and activism are emphasized.
http://www.efhm.com

Freedom Center - Northampton MA
Support, human rights advocacy, and holistic alternatives for people labeled 'mentally ill' in the Pioneer Valley, MA.
http://www.freedom-center.org/

Freedom From Fear
National not-for-profit mental health advocacy association whose mission is to aid and counsel individuals and their families, who suffer from anxiety and depressive illnesses. Includes national events, finding help and resources, and special programs.
http://www.freedomfromfear.com

GIDreform.org - Challenging Psychiatric Gender Stereotypes
GIDreform.org is a resource for all who advocate reform of the psychiatric classification of gender diversity as mental disorder.
http://gidreform.org

Handling Your Mental Illness at Work and School
Information on ADA (the Americans with Disabilities Act), the affect of mental illness on work or schooling, coping, filing a complaint, question of the month.
http://www.bu.edu/sarpsych/jobschool/

Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General
The first Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health, asserting that mental illness is a critical public health problem that must be addressed by the nation.
http://www.mentalhealth.org/features/surgeongeneralreport/home.asp

Mental Health Advocate
Mental health resources, newsletter articles, links, personal accounts, stories, and news. We believe recovery is possible.
http://www.namiscc.org/MentalHealth.htm

Mental Health Association of South Carolina
Resources and information for persons diagnosed with mental illness and their families; reports and data on mental health policy, advocacy, conditions, treatment and other issues.
http://www.mha-sc.org/

Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System
One sixth of inmates have a mental illness, but do not receive treatment because facilities are over-crowded and under-staffed.
http://www.geocities.com/stargazers_here/mental_illness.html

Mississippi Advocacy and Protection
A private, non-profit agency which receives federal funds to protect and advocate the rights of individuals with disabilities
http://www.mspas.com/

The National Coalition of Mental Health Professionals and Consumers, Inc.
Advocating for mental health patients and professionals via educating the general public about good mental health care and by standing up to fight managed care's abusive practices.
http://www.thenationalcoalition.org

National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse
The National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse helps connect individuals to self-help and advocacy resources, and offers expertise to self-help groups and other peer-run services for mental health consumers.
http://www.mhselfhelp.org

Open Up Toolkit
The 'Open Up Toolkit' is a resource website established by Mental Health Media to encourage service users and survivors to come together to combat stigma and discrimination against mental health issues.
http://www.openuptoolkit.net/

Presidents New Freedom Commission on Mental Health
President Bush identifies obstacles to quality mental health care. Includes details of the Commission's work and schedule, along with a section for receiving public comment.
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov

Prop 63 for Me
A mental health consumer advocacy organization in Santa Barbara, California ensuring full consumer empowerment in Mental Health Services Act programs. Find details about the MHSA, a calendar, newsletter and publications.
http://www.prop634me.com

Surgeon General's Conference on Children's Mental Health
Report of the Surgeon General's Conference on Children's Mental Health: A National Action Agenda. This report was prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Department of Justice. It is an outgrowth of the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health which was released in December, 1999.
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/cmh/childreport.htm

Transcultural Mental Health Centre
Information and resources for people of non-English speaking backgrounds suffering or caring for someone with a mental illness. Translated information also available. Involved in research and education.
http://www.dhi.gov.au/tmhc/

Volunteer for Newport Mind Peer Advocacy
Volunteer advocate recruitment for Newport Mind mental health Peer Advocacy in Gwent, South Wales. Full training and supervision provided.
http://www.advocacy.force9.co.uk/index.htm