Consumers
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This page is for all consumers and their caregivers. At the heart of all consumers is the vision and hope that the lives of individuals with mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders will improve.
While the movement that ultimately led to Washington State's current mental health reform activities is decades old, the Mental Health Transformation Project process can be traced to the President's New Freedom Commission (NFC). In April 2002, President Bush signed Executive Order 13263 establishing the New Freedom Commission (NFC) on Mental Health to study problems and gaps in the mental health system and make concrete recommendations that federal, state, and local government, as well as public and private health care providers could implement. In July, 2003, the NFC issued its report Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America.
President’s New Freedom Commission Six Goals
- President’s Goal 1: Americans Understand that Mental Health is Essential to Overall Health
- President’s Goal 2: Mental Health Care is Consumer and Family Driven
- President’s Goal 3: Disparities in Mental Health Services are Eliminated
- President’s Goal 4: Early Mental Health Screening, Assessment and Referral to Services are Common Practice
- President’s Goal 5: Excellent Mental Health Care is Delivered and Research is Accelerated
- President’s Goal 6: Technology is Used to Access Mental Health Care and Information
The Mental Health Transformation Project focuses on the following key issues:
- Persons using mental health services and families/caregivers will have an equal voice in the decisions that affect them.
- Those whose lives are greatly impacted by mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders can lead full meaningful lives within their communities.
- Achieving meaningful lives will require a shift not only with the service delivery culture but also with the existing networks of consumer organizations and the systems who serve them.
- To achieve a culture shift, it is our desire to continue to create an avenue for people to:
- Share their stories
- Share their experiences and
- Address issues important to healthcare reform at the individual, organizational and system level
After analyzing state agency strategic plans to identify current or proposed strategies the MHTP staff added two additional Washington State goals [
19KB] established by the Transformation Work Group. Once identified, contact was made with these agencies to develop partnerships. Transformation staff also met with local government and community agencies to identify common goals. Ultimately, at the direction of Governor Gregoire, a core set of priorities were selected for the Transformation Work Group to pursue.
Washington’s TWG Added Two Goals to the New Freedom Commission Goals
- Washington’s Goal 7: Individuals with mental illnesses have stable housing in the communities where they live.
- Washington’s Goal 8: Employment is an expectation and a priority in Washington for people with mental illness.
The Transformation Project welcomes personal stories of recovery and resilience of those living with mental health conditions in Washington State. To share your story, please email Amy Jeppesen at jeppea@dshs.wa.gov.
Consumer Stories
Find inspiration, hope and support from these personal journeys' written by individuals whose lives have been touched by mental illness. These stories are located on the Consumer Stories page.
Consumer Conference
Over 250 mental health consumers/survivors descended on Kennewick, Washington for the first annual Adult Consumer Conference, Living with Purpose: Honoring Spirit, Mind and Body. The Mental Health Transformation Project, in partnership with adult consumer leaders in Washington and the Washington Institute for Mental Health Research and Training (WIMIRT), succeeded in attracting over 250 participants from around the state to this historic event. The two day conference emphasized a holistic approach to mental health and promoted the hope and promise that people with severe mental illness can, and do, recover. One of the primary objectives of this conference was to operationalize from the consumers perspective the President's New Freedom Commission Goals and move Washington forward as a state united in promoting the health and recovery potential of all its citizens.
Mini-Grant Program
In December 2007, the Mental Health Transformation Grant in partnership with the WIMHRT announced an extension to the Mini-Grant Program for mental health consumers and family members.
For state and community organizations, the Consumer and Family Evaluation Mini-Grant Program Toolkit serves as a guide for developing and implementing their own Mini-Grant Program. To learn of this years winners visit the Mini-Grant Program page.
Recovery
What is Recovery to you? Share your definition of Recovery with others or discover other people's definitions of recovery by visiting the Recovery page.
Consumer Events
Learn about consumer events in your area by visiting the Consumer Events page. To submit consumer events for this page, send an email to Amy Jeppesen at jeppea@dshsh.wa.gov.
Regional Organizing Initiative (ROI)
Learn about ROI by visiting the ROI page. Changing the mental health service delivery model to incorporate recovery and resiliency as core principles is as much of a social movement in Washington State as fighting for minority rights and equality. To promote this shift in thinking, four consumer groups across the state have formed and have begun implementing regional organizing initiatives (ROIs) in support of this monumental undertaking.
Family and Youth
For general Family and Youth information or to learn more about Family and Youth resources visit the Family and Youth page.
Adults
To learn more about resources for Adults visit the Adult page.
