“SRO” AT MHA Consumer Meeting (Last Updated On: ) “SRO” AT MHA Consumer Meeting There was ‘standing-room only’ at the WFMH Mental Health Association Day pre-conference event in Vancouver on July 22, 2001. The program was organized by the National Consumer Advisory Council (NCAC) of the Canadian Mental Health Association as the first international round table on consumer participation in mental health associations. There were approximately 75 delegates from some 23 organizations in 17 different countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Hilda Robbins One of the pioneer consumer leaders at the meeting was Hilda Robbins, a former president of the World Federation for Mental Health and the National Mental Health Association in the United States. She had played a major role in the early development of Mental Health Association Day at the biennial conferences of the World Federation. The chair of the event was Bonnie Thiessen, chairperson of CMHA’s NCAC. She welcomed all the participants and told her own story, including how she first became involved with the Canadian Mental Health Association. A spirited dialogue followed. Delegates identified issues in regard to meaningful participation, and acknowledged the importance of mental health associations providing a safe and respectful place for consumers, survivors and ex-patients to become active on issues of common concern. Those present agreed by a show of hands that most organizations include consumers in their organizations at what one consumer referred to as the “F level” of volunteerism: phone, fax, photocopy, file, and fetch. But, in many cases, consumers fill roles at greater levels of responsibility as well. At least ten of the organizations in attendance employ consumers at an equitable rate of pay, eighteen include consumers in strategic planning and seven include consumers in key executive positions. Despite differences in implementation, almost all organizations reported recruiting consumers into their ranks. Many examples showing how mental health associations involve consumers were shared. For example, Australia described how its formal mental health organizations were started at the grassroots level, with consumers included from the beginning. Their consumer representatives are paid above expenses to attend meetings. Malaysia reported battling stigma by seeking alternatives to institutions and working with businesses to provide jobs. The Caribbean delegation was concerned with increasing the safety of those who disclose that they have a mental illness. Most participants agreed that education is a prime need: not only service provider education about the value of consumer involvement but also consumer education to prepare for more meaningful and full involvement. Both self-discrimination and consumer elitism were identified as internal barriers to full inclusion. Consensus was clear on the need for consumers to become more visible at the higher levels of lobbying and involved in legislative policy development. However, there was debate over the question of quotas for consumers on boards and committees – tokenism or a necessary first step? Experiences illustrating both positions were presented. At the end of the meeting, all participants agreed that it would benefit consumers everywhere to have more opportunities to exchange programs and ideas among cultures and countries, while also encouraging friendship. It was a wonderful chance for representatives of mental health associations to meet each other under the auspices of the World Federation and to establish links for further contacts and future partnerships not only during the World Assembly but also in the years ahead.