CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News December 23, 2002
Vol. 02-95
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CMHS Consumer/survivor Issues
- 2002 Year in Review -
Consumer Survivor Issues
Discrimination and Stigma
Consumer Affairs Activities
Regional Consumer Meetings
CMHS SUBCOMMITTEE ON CONSUMER/SURVIVOR ISSUES PROVIDES CONSUMER
PERSPECTIVES ON MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA)
Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) maintains a congressionally mandated
National Advisory Council (NAC) that advises the CMHS director on Center
activities. In 2000, a subcommittee to the NAC was formed, the Subcommittee on
Consumer/Survivor Issues, to serve as a fact-finding body and advise and make
recommendations to the NAC on issues from the consumer/survivor perspective.
To accomplish this task, members of the NAC serve on the Subcommittee as well
as expert consumer/survivor consultants. (For a current membership list,
please go to
http://www.mentalhealth.org/cmhs/AdvisoryCouncil/members.asp.) All
meetings are open to the public.
The Subcommittee on Consumer/Survivor Issues met three times in FY 2002.
Typically, meetings include presentations from SAMSHA and CMHS staff on
Federal activities. This past year's reports from staff included updates on
strategic planning, budget issues, goal setting, New Freedom Initiative
activities, homelessness, older adults, the response to the mental health
needs of September 11, the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative, the
Consumer-Operated Services Program (COSP), and the Self-Help Survey. Staff
also updated the Subcommittee on SAMHSA's priorities matrix that can be
located on the SAMHSA Web site at
http://www.samhsa.gov/policy/policy.html. Specifically, matrix reports
covered activities on children and families, co-occurring disorders and the
report to Congress, and terrorism/bioterrorism.
In addition, the Subcommittee often hears from representatives of other
Federal agencies whose programs have an impact on the lives of individuals
with mental illnesses and their families. Earlier this year, staff of the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provided an overview of the
agency, spoke on the current trends in Medicare and Medicaid services, and
gave an update on new programs and initiatives at CMS.
Outside experts are also invited to make presentations to the Subcommittee on
current topical issues in the mental health field. This year, the Subcommittee
heard reports on state reporting efforts and data collection on the use of
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Information was presented on memory and
cognition issues possibly associated with the use of ECT as well as the impact
of recent legislation in Texas that requires data reporting on each
administration of ECT in the state. The Subcommittee also heard from
individuals who have received ECT.
At another meeting this past year, the Subcommittee heard from experts on the
issue of cross-disabilities, or, in this instance, individuals with
psychiatric disabilities and physical disabilities. The often-overlooked needs
of this population were highlighted including the need for mental health
services to better respond to these persons.
Also this year, the Subcommittee invited Presidential appointee Daniel Fisher,
M.D., Ph.D., of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health to
speak. Dr. Fisher reported on the structure of the Mental Health Commission
and its current activities on the development of the Commission's interim and
final reports to the President. Members of the Subcommittee and Dr. Fisher
agreed to ongoing interaction throughout the process.
At every Consumer/Survivor Subcommittee meeting there is a public comment
period. Speakers range from national level consumer advocates to local
interested parties. Important comments and information are gleaned from these
sessions. Over the past year, representatives from national organizations such
as CONTAC (Consumer Organization and Networking Technical Assistance Center),
the National Mental Health Consumers' Self Help Clearinghouse, the National
Empowerment Center, the National Mental Health Association, and NAMI (National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill) have presented their views to the Subcommittee.
Members of the Subcommittee developed a briefing paper in 2002 that identifies
important issues of concern to mental health consumer/survivors and examines
consumer-operated programs that address these issues. Specifically, the
Subcommittee was interested in determining what are the most pressing needs of
consumers within the publicly funded mental health system such as the
promotion of peer support and consumer-operated services and research on the
effectiveness of these services, increased funding, supportive housing,
non-coercion, and recovery. The CMHS National Advisory Council accepted the
briefing paper and forwarded it to the Chair and each member of the
President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. The Consumer/Survivor
Subcommittee's briefing paper can be accessed on the SAMHSA Web site at
http://www.mentalhealth.org/cmhs/AdvisoryCouncil/briefingpaper.asp.
The following is a complete list of the recommendations that were developed
over the course of 2002 by the Consumer/Survivor Subcommittee and adopted by
the CMHS NAC.
February 5-6, 2002 – Subcommittee Meeting
• Continue grant support at current funding levels or higher for a minimum of
five national consumer technical assistance centers of which at least three
are consumer-operated. Adopted by NAC on February 8, 2002.
• Initiate Knowledge, Development & Application efforts in the area of mental
health on consumer-directed self-determination models such as personal care
attendants, voucher programs (e.g. cash & counseling), individualized
budgeting, etc., that have been successfully demonstrated by persons with
physical/developmental disabilities and older adults. Adopted by NAC on
February 8, 2002.
June 17-18, 2002 – Subcommittee Meeting
• The CMHS National Advisory Council unanimously urged action on an immediate
appointment to the consumer/survivor seat on the Council. Adopted by NAC on
June 20, 2002.
• The Center for Mental Health Services National Advisory Council recognizes
the National Council on Disability's report "From Privileges to Rights: People
Labeled with Psychiatric Disabilities Speak for Themselves," published January
20, 2002, as a meaningful documentation of consumer concern; and at the
request of the Consumer/Survivor Subcommittee, will use it to inform its
understanding of disparities in the treatment of all people with psychiatric
disabilities; and accepts the challenge of the Consumer/Survivor Subcommittee
to maintain awareness of these public policy recommendations as it advises the
CMHS director. Adopted by NAC on June 20, 2002.
September 3-4, 2002 – Subcommittee Meeting
• The CMHS Subcommittee on Consumer/Survivor Issues recommends that the CMHS
National Advisory Council accept the Subcommittee's Briefing Paper and
formally forward the document to the Chair of the President's New Freedom
Commission on Mental Health and send copies to the Commission members. Adopted
by NAC on September 5, 2002.
• The CMHS Subcommittee on Consumer/Survivor Issues recommends that the CMHS
National Advisory Council recommend the inclusion of consumer/survivor
involvement in the selection process of the new CMHS director and include both
a consumer/survivor representative of the National Advisory Council's
Subcommittee on Consumer/Survivor Issues and a member of the CMHS National
Advisory Council on the candidate review panel. Adopted by NAC on September 5,
2002.
• The CMHS Subcommittee on Consumer/Survivor Issues recommends that the CMHS
National Advisory Council write a letter to the Presidential Personnel Office
that acknowledges an upcoming vacancy on the Ticket to Work and Work
Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA) Advisory Panel and strongly recommends
that a mental health consumer/survivor be chosen to fill the upcoming vacancy.
Adopted by NAC on September 5, 2002.
For more information about the Subcommittee and its activities, the minutes of
each Subcommittee meeting and other relevant information are posted on the
SAMHSA Mental Health Information Center Web site at
http://www.mentalhealth.org/consumersurvivor/subcommittee.asp.
Stay tuned to the CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News for dates and locations of
upcoming 2003 CMHS Consumer/Survivor Subcommittee meetings.
Last Updated on
04/14/04
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