Training & Resources for

Mental Health Advocates

VOCAL Network, founded and run by people with mental illness, connects people to people and works to improve Virginia’s Mental Health Services. VOCAL Network, P.O. Box 477, Richmond, VA 23218, (804) 343-1777. www.vocalnetwork.org

The Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy (VOPA) helps with disability-related problems like abuse, neglect, and discrimination. They also help people with disabilities obtain services and treatment..... Visit the VOPA Website

CELT Leadership Academy is a free 3-day training designed to give mental health consumers important tools for successful leadership. CELT is a program of the Mental Health Association of Virginia. 434-953-9798, www.mhav.org

The Virginia Organizing Project (VOP) is a statewide grassroots organization dedicated to challenging injustice by empowering people in local communities to address issues that affect the quality of their lives. (434) 984-4655, www.virginia-organizing.org

Virginia Mental Health Planning Council - The mission of the Virginia Mental Health Planning Council is to advocate for a consumer and family-oriented, integrated and community-based system of mental health care of the highest quality. They are often seeking more consumer members. Virginia Mental Health Planning Council.

The Mental Health Association of Virginia, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, advocacy organization. Their mission: To promote mental health, develop services to prevent mental illness and assure the proper care and treatment of mentally ill children and adults. They have chapters throughout the state.  Visit the Mental Health Association Website

Northern Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association is an association of mental health consumers who come together to network and support each other’s advocacy. Meetings: Meets at the Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church in south Fairfax County. Contact Bill or Diane at 703 360 3657, dengster@aol.com

Mindfreedom unites 100 grassroots groups and thousands of members to win campaigns for human rights of people diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities. office@mindfreedom.org, (877) MAD-PRIDE, online at www.mindfreedom.org. A Virginia chapter is forming, to find out more contact 434-296-5649 or foxchaser@msn.com.

The National Mental Health Consumers Self-Help Clearinghouse provides assistance in self and system advocacy, on-site consultations, training, educational events, assistance in starting a group and technical assistance to consumer-run groups. 800-553-4539, TDD: 215-751-9655. www.mhselfhelp.org

National Empowerment Center is a consumer-run center that provides information on self-help resources, conferences, networking, conference calls and workshops. 925-681-0880, TDD: 1-800-889-7693, powertwou@aol.com, or www.power2u.org

National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center works to strengthen organizations supporting mental health consumers by providing research, information, & financial aid. (800) 969-6642, or ConsumerTA@nmha.org

CONTAC is a center for mental health consumers and consumer-run organizations. Technical assistance for organizing and maintaining self-help groups, listserv, electronic library, and on-line peer support.1-888-825-8324, usacontac@contac.org, www.contac.org

National Mental Health Consumers Self Help Clearinghouse publishes an email newsletter on the consumer movement across the country. Register here http://www.mhselfhelp.org/register/register.php. They also publish free booklets for consumers and advocates. Booklets include: Self-Advocacy, Serving on a Board or Committee, Systems Advocacy, History of the Consumer Movement, Fighting Stigma and Combatiendo El Estigma. Available at http://www.mhselfhelp.org/techasst/order.php. 

Contact information for the Executive Directors of community & advocacy groups in Virginia

Contact information for the Executive Directors of CSB's and state facilities

Contact information for the Leadership of Regional Partnerships

Contact information for Virginia DMHMRSAS
 

Training & Resources for Mental Health Advocates, A VOCAL CO-OP Resource list by Cassandra Nudel