Statewide Consumer Organisations
Statewide consumer-run organisations are organisations in which individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions make up most of the staff and the board of directors. These organisations operate at the state level, covering entire states or significant portions of them, and play a vital role in advocating for the needs and rights of mental health consumers in their respective regions. Critical characteristics of statewide consumer-run organisations include:
-
Consumer Majority: Most of the staff members and board members are individuals who have firsthand experience living with mental health conditions. This ensures that the perspectives and needs of mental health consumers drive the organisation's activities, priorities, and decision-making processes.
-
Advocacy and Support: These organisations advocate for the rights of mental health consumers, including access to quality care, reduction of stigma and discrimination, and meaningful involvement in treatment planning and policy development. They also provide support services, such as peer support groups, helplines, and educational programs, to empower individuals in their recovery journeys.
-
Statewide Coverage: Statewide consumer-run organisations typically operate across entire states or large regions within states, ensuring that their advocacy efforts and support services reach a broad spectrum of individuals living with mental health conditions across diverse communities.
-
Collaboration and Networking: These organisations often collaborate with government agencies, mental health service providers, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to promote systemic change and improve mental health outcomes statewide. They also provide networking opportunities for mental health consumers to connect with peers and community resources.
-
Consumer Empowerment: One of the core principles of statewide consumer-run organisations is empowering mental health consumers to take control of their recovery journeys, make informed decisions about their care, and actively shape mental health policies and services at the individual and systemic levels.
Statewide consumer-run organisations serve as powerful voices for mental health consumers, driving positive change, providing support, and fostering community empowerment across entire states or significant regions within states.
Focus On Recovery-United, Inc. (FOR-U) is an Independent Peer Operated/Peer Support Non-Profit Organization staffed entirely by paid and volunteer consumers who have been trained as facilitators of Mary Ellen Copeland’s Wellness Recovery Action Plan™ (WRAP). They are funded by the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to promote positive change in the lives of Connecticut residents who experience (or who have experienced) psychiatric (and/or addiction) symptoms.
The Kansas Consumer Advisory Council (KCAC) for Adult Mental Health is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for, educating, and empowering Kansas adults with mental health needs. Its mission focuses on fostering recovery-oriented, community-based services that promote wellness, self-determination, and equal representation for consumers.
NC CANSO (North Carolina Consumer Advocacy, Networking, and Support Organization) is an organization focused on promoting consumer-driven recovery and resilience in mental health services. It works to ensure that individuals with lived experience have a voice in state policies and advocates for the inclusion of peer support within mental health systems.
This page invites you to explore 39 state-wide consumer-run organisations across the United States, showcasing the diverse peer support, advocacy, and recovery-focused services available to people with lived experience—offering inspiration and ideas you can bring to your own consumer-run organisation.
Proudly designed by Andrew Turtle