Position Statement 36: In Support of Self-Determination Initiatives
Statement of Position
Mental Health America envisions a just, humane and healthy society in which all people are accorded respect, dignity and the opportunity to achieve their full potential free from stigma, discrimination and prejudice. Consistent with this philosophy, Mental Health America supports and promotes the use of individualized planning, self-directed care and self-determination initiatives for individuals with psychiatric disabilities of all ages as tools in the development of recovery oriented mental health systems.Background
Over 15 years of federal and state policy have established that Americans with psychiatric disabilities of all ages are entitled to live close to their families and friends, to live independently, to engage in productive employment and to participate in all aspects of community life. There is now recognition that people who require support from the public mental health system must have the freedom not only to define the life they seek, but to be supported to direct the assistance they require in pursuit of that life.Call to Action
Mental Health America calls on public mental health systems to provide meaningful choices to individuals with mental illnesses regarding their mental health services. Arrangements that support self-determination must be sponsored by state and county mental health systems assuring methods for the persons with mental illness to exert direct control over how, by whom, and to what ends they are served and supported.Self determination relies on choice in service delivery and emphasizes peer, family-based and community-based approaches to services. Mental Health America encourages Mental Health Associations, mental health consumers, and other advocates to support the development of self-determination initiatives which are culturally competent, consumer and family driven and to ensure that these programs do not simply shift financial risk to participants. Mental Health America opposes any initiatives aimed at reducing government mental health resources and/or accountability for providing quality care, and will contest any effort to market such a proposal as a “self-determination”initiative. Self-determination programs should begin with personal care and respite and expand to include a whole range of self-directed services as policy and funding evolves.
Mental Health America encourages public dialogue in each and every mental health system to support meaningful self-direction and consumer choice. The Mental Health America paper, Consumer Control and Choice: An Overview of Self-Determination Initiatives for People with Psychiatric Disabilities provides greater detail on the history, elements and funding mechanisms for person centered planning and self-determination initiatives. Development of consumer-centered systems will require education on mental health treatment and services for mental health consumers and their families, support for mental health consumers and their families, administrators, policy makers and services providers and the development of policy, financing and planning efforts that support this new paradigm of service delivery.
Effective Period
The Mental Health America Board of Directors approved this policy on November 13, 2004. It will remain in effect for five (5) years and is reviewed as required by the Mental Health America Prevention and Adults Mental Health Services Committee.
Expiration: December 31, 2009
Effective Period
The Mental Health America Board of Directors approved this policy on November 13, 2004. It will remain in effect for five (5) years and is reviewed as required by the Mental Health America Prevention and Adults Mental Health Services Committee.
Expiration: December 31, 2009
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