CONSUMER AFFAIRS BULLETIN
Volume 2, No. 1 Spring 1997

Musings From An Alternatives Neophyte

(By Caryn K. Coulter, Los Angeles, California)

Iris Hyman, editor of this publication, has boldly invited me to share my thoughts and perceptions relative to Alternatives '96 in Orlando, Fla. Many thanks to SAMHSA and to CMHS for making this publication possible.

A newly initiated advocate for mental health in general, and a 15-year consumer of services and funding from several sectors of the industry, I am anxious to learn as much as possible regarding the issues surrounding mental health management in order that I may become a well-prepared advocate and an educated professional in the field. Only recently have the doors to policy-makers become open enough that even I, an MBA and social servant, may join in the development process.

When I first learned of Alternatives, however, at a meeting of the Los Angeles County Client Coalition, I thought a "pass" might be in order. Alternatives sounded like a sort of "fringe" phenomenon. Although I pride myself in my open-mindedness, Alternatives sounded, at first, like an event which might be chronicled in national tabloids. I envisioned headlines on the racks at the supermarket: "Mental Patients Convene in Steaming Tepees;" "Naked Psychiatrists Promote Algae Cures;" "Florida Conference Yields to Lawless Cream Therapy."

It did not sound as if "The Answer" to our national mental health debate would arise out of Orlando, although I must admit I was highly curious as to what just might emerge. It was, therefore, a privilege to receive a combination of public and private funding to be able to join the delegation from Los Angeles County which did participate in Alternatives '96, and I am extremely pleased that I did. For one, I will be better prepared to support Alternatives '98 which is planned for Los Angeles. For another, I believe I am finally learning the meaning of consumerism as it applies to mental health issues.

Discussions which most intrigued me centered on Internet conferencing, consumer involvement in policy discussions, statewide and national organizing efforts, and the many success stories surrounding this work. I continue to remind my consumer peers and friends throughout the community of the interesting historical dimension of consumer activity in mental health, and of the growing voice among those who best know truth in healing: the process extends far beyond the reaches of pills and medical professionals. We are all learning together.

A particularly interested conference attendee agreed to send me materials on graduate and doctoral programs--rare though they are--which focus on client-centered mental health management. This new acquaintance happens to be trained as a psychiatrist, himself, one of surprisingly few who saw fit to participate in Alternatives. He said he believes consumers could gain easy access to scholarship funding for public policy development and health care administration programs relating to mental health issues. I was impressed and encouraged by his sensitivity to our core challenge, which seems to be thin leadership.

Perhaps the best indicator of the event's success is my own learn-as-you-go follow up activity back in Southern California. For one, I left the group home in which I lived.

For another, I sensed a feeling of shared mission which had been less apparent in my earlier efforts to advocate in graduate school and with the Southern California community. Now that I am hooked into the process, I will no longer waste time with some of the sillier pranks I once tried as attention-getters. (I once slipped into a psychiatrists' Christmas party at the facility where I was hospitalized. Another time, I performed as a clown, "Loony Balloony," at an annual party for members of the board for one of Los Angeles' leading provider organizations. Not really fun--or funny.)

Alternatives is about courage, team-building, education, and--above all--strength for the journey ahead. We still have miles and miles of ground to cover before the world begins to understand and respect the predicament of those facing mental health challenges. The demons will fall, one by one, if we work together, remember where we've been, and learn from the lessons of previous civil rights movements. My favorite happens to be the story of Noah and his family tumbling in an ark, waiting out the flood, and landing on free soil.

All the best, and thanks for letting me share.

Consumer Affairs Bulletin
Volume 2, No. 1 Spring 1997