The Mental Health Coalition promotes empowerment through advocacy, education, training and advancing the consumer voice.

Have you ever said that you disliked a certain food that you had never tried, based only on the way it looked, or what you had heard of it? Did you find out later, after trying it, that it was really quite good?

It is easy for people to do this with other people. For years, many people have placed a stigma on those in our society who have experienced mental health problems. This has been done with little or no contact, involvement, or facts about mental illness or those in the mental health community.

The Mental Health Coalition works daily to change that through public presentations and our newsletter, the Community Forum. We hold workshops and seminars for our members, designed to help improve leadership, presentation and social skills. We identify consumer perspectives through surveys, focus groups and bulletin boards. That information is used in advocating for improvements within the mental health system. Educational programs and trainings about systems issues are offered as well.

Our members grow to become informed, confident advocates who work together to raise awareness of their abilities, accomplishments, and perspectives to improve the mental health system, and promote acceptance and understanding in society.