The mental health consumer/survivor movement began almost thirty (30) years ago, perhaps not coincidentally, at the time of the beginning of deinstitutionaliztion.. Former mental patients began to meet together in groups without psychiatric professionals. These former patients shared their feelings of anger at their abusive treatment and hope for independent living. They began organizing to fight for their rights and to provide support for each other. A new civil rights movement began. Initially, this social change movement concentrated on direct political action and organized in autonomous, grassroots groups, connected only by one newsletter and once a year unfounded Conferences, in campgrounds and universities. In time, as our activities grew, we sought and received funding, mainstreamed so as to reach the millions of mental health consumers who knew nothing about empowerment, and centralized, such as beginning state wide organizations. Today, there are self-help, mutual support groups throughout the country, statewide client advocacy organizations in the majority of states, training Conferences such as the annual Alternatives Conference and countless county and state consumer conferences, national technical assistance centers, the beginning of research by clients about self help and mutual support initiatives, substantive client involvement in policy making and program development and implementation, clients as providers in the mental health system and at management levels, an advance in rights protections and proliferation of lawyers and others protecting our rights.

 To empower clients of the mental health system through self help groups and networking
statewide.
 To confront discriminatory attitudes about mental health clients in the public, the media, the
mental health system, and within mental health clients themselves.
 To provide a strong voice by and for mental health clients; to be heard on all issues
concerning clients and public policies affecting them in government, the media, and the
community.
 To promote and instill the rights of clients in and out of treatment situations, with special
attention to the right to freedom of choice

3. Providing educational and training opportunities on self help programs and principles for
mental health, and mental health-related communities.

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