Working Together

Use these resources to network and organize with other consumers, become better informed, and get the information and services you need.

Here’s how to contact the Consumer/Consumer Supporter Self-Help Technical Assistance Centers:

National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center (NCSTAC) – Mental Health America 
P.O. Box 16810
Alexandria, VA 22302-0810
Telephone: (800) 969-6642 (toll-free) or (703) 684-7722
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net

National Empowerment Center 
599 Canal Street
Lawrence, MA  01840
Telephone: (800) 769-3728 or (800) POWER2U (toll-free)
TTY/TTD: (800) 889-7693 or (800) TTY-POWER
http://www.power2u.org

National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse 
1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Telephone: (800) 553-4539 (toll-free) or (215)751-1810
http://www.mhselfhelp.org

Other resources

Active Minds on Campus, a student-run mental health awareness, education, and advocacy organization designed for the college campus 
Phone:  (240) 401-3182
http://www.activemindsoncampus.org

Consumer/Survivor information from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)/Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) 
P. O. Box 42557
Washington, DC 20015
Phone: (800) 789-2647 (toll-free)
TDD: (866) 889-2647
http://www.samhsa.gov/centers/cmhs/cmhs.html – click on Consumer/Survivor

McMan's Depression and Bipolar Weekly, a free consumer-written e-newsletter on mental health issues
To subscribe:  http://www.mcmanweb.com

Mental Health World, a newsletter published by recipients of mental health services to promote hope and understanding through education
To subscribe:  http://www.mentalhealthworld.org

National Asian-American /Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA)
http://www.naapimha.org

National Latino Behavioral Health Association (Asociación Nacional Latino de Adicción y Salud Mental)
http://www.nlbha.org

National Leadership Council on African-American Behavioral Health (NLC)
http://www.nlcouncil.org

Older Adult Consumer Mental Health Alliance (OACMHA) - an advocacy group dedicated to improving the quality of life of older persons affected by mental illness and their family caregivers
http://www.oacmha.com

Office of Minority Health Resource Center
http://www.omhrc.gov

Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma Associated with Mental Illness (ADS Center) - this Center helps individuals and organizations design, implement, and operate programs that counter discrimination and stigma associated with mental illnesses. 
11420 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD  20852
Phone: (800) 540-0320 (toll-free)
http://www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov

State Consumer Networks
Your state may have a statewide consumer/survivor organization or network.  Click here to view a complete listing of these organizations.    

Your Rights

American Bar Association Disability Lawyers Directory 
http://www.abanet.org/disability/lawpract1.html

Americans with Disabilities Act information
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/adalinks.htm and http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/publicat.htm

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law http://www.bazelon.org/

National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems, Inc. (links to state organizations)
http://www.protectionandadvocacy.com/other%20pages/origins%20home.htm