Consumers and families

• Consumer/advocate resource links
• Planning for your mental health treatment
• National Consumer Technical Assistance and Recovery Organizations
• National Consumer Advocacy and Legal Organizations

Resource links

These consumer and advocate resource links will help you locate consumer run organizations and other national programs to assist family members or consumers who have mental illness.

Note: DHS does not necessarily endorse any content these links may contain.

A Family Guide to Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Web site has information for parents and caring adults on how to help prevent youth substance abuse and promote mental health by improving communication with children--what to know, what to do, and what to say.

Dual Diagnosis Anonymous (DDA)

DDA is a peer support group based on an authorized version of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous plus an additional five steps that focus on Dual Diagnosis (mental illness and substance abuse). DDA's unique 12 Steps Plus 5 Program offers hope for achieving the promise of recovery. This Web site provides meeting dates, helpful links, etc.  

MindFreedom 
Coalition campaigning for human rights and alternatives in mental health
 

NAMI Oregon
NAMI Oregon is a statewide grassroots organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with mental illness and their families through support, education, and advocacy.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
NAMI's mission is to eradicate mental illness and improve the quality of life of those affected by these diseases.

NAMI Affiliate Finder
National locator for support systems within other states.

National Mental Heatlh Association (NMHA)
NMHA is the nation's oldest and most broad-based mental health citizens' advocacy group.

Peer Operated Recovery Treatment and Support Project (PORTS) (PDF) 

PORTS is a consumer-operated service program (COSP) that provides treatment coordination and resource brokerage services

Service User Workforce Development Project

The purpose of this project was to identify, scope and describe these workforce needs, and the gaps and issues unique to service users working in the mental health workforce, in order to provide some evidence and direction for the implementation of Tuutahitia Te Wero. This information is intended to be used for the development of policies and approaches to address the mental health workforce development needs of service users.

Planning for your mental health treatment

Understand how you can plan your mental health treatment for a time when you may be unable to make your own treatment decisions.

National Consumer Technical Assistance and Recovery Organizations

National Empowerment Center

Consumer Organization and Networking Technical Assistance Center (CONTAC)

National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse 

National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center 

National Consumer Advocacy and Legal Organizations

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

Mental and Physical Disability Law Reporter 

National Association for Rights, Protection and Advocacy (NARPA)

Protection and Advocacy Agencies

Americans With Disabilities Act