I am a mental health professional; my credential: life experience.
History is in the making in the mental health movement, with persons who live with a mental illness, are stable, and work in the mental health field as professionals (known as Consumer Providers). It is a new concept; and as with anything new, there is some resistance, some doubt about the wisdom of such a concept. With this article, I want to educate those who read it and hopefully gain enthusiasm for the growth of the Consumer Provider movement. I have lived with mental illness for many years and have only received mental health services from traditional mental health professionals; there were no Consumer Providers when I was ill. I was pleased with my services. However, I believe very strongly in the Consumer Provider movement because the same concept has been ongoing in Alcoholics Anonymous with great success. In AA settings, life-experience professionals have worked side by side with traditionally educated professionals to counsel persons with substance abuse problems. I would like to see Consumer Providers be included in all areas of mental health treatment. Today I know of Consumer Providers on PACT teams, ICMS teams, at Drop-in Centers, and on some Warm Lines. My vision is to see Consumer Providers work throughout the mental health system, including crisis teams, inpatient hospital settings, residential settings, and outpatient programs.
Fox
Valerie
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D003256:Community Participation; D003406:Credentialing; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services; D011361:Professional Competence; D000078329:Workforce