Description of the California Network of Mental Health Clients

The California Network of Mental Health Clients (CNMHC), a solely consumer-run organization whose membership consists of affiliates and over 1500 individuals, is the formal advocacy statewide voice for California's mental health consumers.

CNMHC represents the voice of the mental health consumer and as such is a critical participant, stakeholder, and advocacy agent in all statewide mental health policy processes. CNMHC also lends critical support to self help and mutual support groups and programs throughout the state.

CNMHC provides services statewide and locally. It provides services to consumers of mental health services such as trainings, networking, conferences, policy advocacy, education, and information. CNMHC also provides vital training and education to those individuals and systems that come in contact with individuals with mental disabilities. For example:

• CNMHC works hard to educate and break down stereotypes in various community settings such as schools/universities, businesses, law enforcement agencies and personnel, and the media as well as the mental health system.
• CNMHC has developed dialogues between clients and in patient staff on the use of restraints and seclusion which are being used as service trainings by mental health facilities.

CNMHC has also developed innovative concepts and activities that have influenced both California and national mental health delivery systems. For example:

• CNMHC developed the concept of "client culture" which is now part and parcel of California's Cultural Competency Mental Health Plan.
• CNMHC developed a Possessions Advance Directives form and procedure that is a mechanism for clients to protect and preserve their possessions when hospitalized or incarcerated. Other states are looking at this form for replication.
• CNMHC is responsible for two groundbreaking books on self-help and client-run programs that have been a mainstay in the field: Reaching Across: Mental Health Clients Helping Each Other and Reaching Across 11: Maintaining Our Roots/The Challenge of Growth.
• CNMHC was responsible for the Well Being Project, the first client developed research project in the nation that is often referenced in mental health literature and practice.

Underlining all of our local and statewide activities, CNMHC is unique in providing three essential services to California:

CNMHC is the sole voice of a community of individuals that are directly and continuously affected by policy decisions. This community knows first hand what works and doesn't work. Without our input, California cannot have an effective or quality public mental health system.

The CNMHC provides an advocacy voice for mental health consumers at the state level, with the goal of promoting choice and self-determination, and services that meet the self-defined needs of consumers.

CNMHC provides Self-Help, Peer Support, and Consumer Networking that is one of the most effective ways to assist individuals in attaining and maintaining recovery and no longer needing to use high-end services - possibly not needing to use services at all.

Activities provided through a self help and mutual support vehicle, whether indirect or direct services, are constantly modeling and supporting client empowerment and recovery.