A' Kathryn Power, M'Ed', Director

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Moving Toward a New Day Consumer-Directed
Transformation of the Mental Health System
August 13, 2004Pittsburgh, PA

• A. Kathryn Power, M.Ed., Director
• Center for Mental Health Services

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Hope is a search for freedom . . . of the
spirit to assert its dignity, of having some
level of control over ones life. To hope for
recovery under the most extreme circumstances is
an act of defiance that permits a person to live
his life on his own terms. It is part of the
human spirit to endure and give a miracle a
chance to happen. Jerome Groopman, M.D. The
Anatomy of Hope
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The Goals of a Transformed System
Goal 1 Goal 2 Goal 3 Goal 4 Goal 5 Goal 6

• Americans understand that mental health is
  essential to overall health
• Mental health care is consumer and family driven
• Disparities in mental health services are
  eliminated
• Early mental health screening, assessment, and
  referral to services are common practice
• Excellent mental health care is delivered and
  research is accelerated
• Technology is used to access mental health care
  and information

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Goal 2
Mental Health Care is Consumer and Family Driven

• Recommendations
• 2.1Develop an individualized plan of care for
  every adult with a serious mental illness and
  child with a serious emotional disturbance
• 2.2Involve consumers and families fully in
  orienting the mental health system toward
  recovery

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Mental Health Care is Consumer and Family Driven
Goal 2

• 2.3Align relevant Federal programs to improve
  access and accountability for mental health
  services
• 2.4Create a Comprehensive State Mental Health
  Plan
• 2.5Protect and enhance consumers rights

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Federal Partners Workgroup
Department of Health and Human Services
Other Partners AoA NIH/NIDA Department
of Education ACF NIH/NIMH Department of
Housing and Urban Development
AHRQ OS/ASPE Department of Justice CDC
OS/OCR Department of Labor CMS OS/OD
OS/OPHS Social Security
Administration HRSA SAMHSA
Department of Veterans IHS Affairs

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Mental health as a public health crisis
Comparative mortality statistics, 2001
Source Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
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The very foundation of a transformed system will
be consumer-driven carewith consumers having
real and meaningful choices about treatment
options.
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Depression presents so many variations and has
so many subtle facetsdepends in short, so much
on the individuals totality of causation and
responsethat one persons panacea might be
anothers trap. William Styron Darkness
Visible A Memoir of Madness
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Effective treatment of mental illnesses will
consider the needs of a whole personmentally,
physically, and spiritually
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What is it you need to support your personal
journey toward recovery?
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Ways You Can Influence Comprehensive State Mental
Health Plans

• Work with your DBSA chapter to influence your
  State legislature for new wellness models
• Get involved with your State mental health
  planning and advisory councils
• Join together as a coalition of mental health
  care advocates
• Work with community-based organizations (e.g.,
  schools and churches) to engage them as mental
  health advocates
• Create partnerships with NAMI and NMHA
• Work with local chapters of professional
  organizations (e.g., National Association of
  Social Workers or the American Psychological
  Association)

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Transformation is . . .
ultimately about newnessabout new values, new
attitudes, and new beliefs. It is about how
these changes are expressed in the behaviors of
people and institutions.
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The Presidents New Freedom Commission on
Mental Health
Achieving the Promise Transforming
Mental Health Care in America
Internet search key word Presidents New
Freedom Commission Additional copies available
from SAMHSA by calling 1 [phone]
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Recovery refers to

• the process by which people are able to live,
  work, learn, and participate fully in their
  communities
• the ability to live a fulfilling and productive
  life despite a disability
• a reduction or complete remission of symptoms
• the ability to help make important decisions
  affecting ones own life.

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http//www.peersupport.org/
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• It is your voice that can transform our Nations
  mental health care system.

Speak up and speak out. Celebrate your
individuality, celebrate your power, celebrate
your hope in recovery.
You have a future, and it is yours to choose.