History Fragments

Books, articles and archives reveal bits of information that illustrate the development of the mental health system we have now, the things we’ve lost and gained.  My particular interest is the development of the consumer/survivor movements – the ways that people who live with mental illness – have lost and found their voices and places […]

First meeting of the Consumer Participation Task Force

This story will appear in my upcoming book Framework for Support:  A Retrospective – 1984 – 2004: Bonnie Pape, newly hired Director of the CMHA National Framework project, described the first meeting of the “Consumer Participation Task Force” (forerunner of the National Consumer Advisory Committee -NCAC)             In June 1986, seven wary strangers met at the Marlboro Inn […]